title: Effect of low-dose cyclosporin A on systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of low-dose cyclosporin A (CSA) treatment on disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients in the study had active disease as defined by at least the presence of a low CH50 level. Patients were initially given 3 mg/kg/day of CSA. Dosages were adjusted individually at every visit, according to both clinical and laboratory data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven women with SLE were enrolled in the study; 10 were evaluable. After 20 weeks of CSA treatment, the mean score for disease activity on the SLE Disease Activity Index decreased significantly, from 10.6 to 3.8 (P = 0.02). The titer of antinuclear antibodies decreased in 8 patients and the level of anti-DNA antibodies decreased in 5. Side effects included hypertension (40%), hypertrichosis (30%), gingival hypertrophy (10%), and a rise in the blood urea nitrogen level. Serum creatinine levels remained unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The favorable responses observed in our patients strongly suggest that low-dose CSA can reduce the disease activity of SLE.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Kagawa Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tokuda
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kurata
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mizoguchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inoh
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kinashi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Takahara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D016572:Cyclosporine