title: Cyclosporin for the treatment of severe ulcerative colitis.
abstract: The effect of cyclosporin was evaluated in six patients with severe ulcerative colitis not responding to at least 8 days of standard therapy with intravenous corticosteroids. Cyclosporin (5-7.5 mg/kg/day intravenously) was added while steroid therapy was continued. Five of 6 patients responded after a mean of 7 days and colectomy was not necessary. After 4 weeks three patients achieved clinical remission or had mild symptoms and were weaned from cyclosporin and corticosteroids without exacerbation within the next 7-15 months. Two patients improved and they were put on oral cyclosporin. One of them relapsed after 2 weeks and then responded to high dose corticosteroids. This patient is doing well at 8 months of followup on azathioprine and steroids. One patient stopped oral cyclosporin after 3 months abruptly and then had a relapse. He subsequently improved while refusing any medical therapy. Side effects of cyclosporin occurred in 2 patients but were mild and self limited and did not necessitate discontinuation of the drug. Cyclosporin appears to be effective in a large portion of patients with severe ulcerative colitis who failed to improve on corticosteroids and in whom colectomy would otherwise be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Karl Franzens University, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wenzl
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Petritsch
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reicht
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eherer
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Krejs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D016572:Cyclosporine