Evaluation of the efficacy and toxicity of the cyclosporine A-flucortolone-methotrexate combination in the treatment of sarcoidosis.
Eleven patients with chronic sarcoidosis resistant to high-dose corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive treatments were treated with cyclosporine A at the initial daily dose of 5 mg per kg body weight (ideal weight in the case of overweight subjects) combined with flucortolone and methotrexate. A complete and lasting remission of the disease was obtained in all patients with total disappearance of pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations. In addition, the disease activity indexes normalized and remained normal for the rest of the follow-up period (24.82 +/- 8.22 months, range 12-33). No renal or hepatic toxicity was observed in any patient. Two of them presented hypertrichosis and one nausea.
Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica 1 dell'Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Italy.
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005448:Fluocortolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000097:blood; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012074:Remission Induction; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D005448:Fluocortolone; D016572:Cyclosporine; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; D008727:Methotrexate