Intravenous cyclosporine for inflammatory bowel disease--safe and effective.
OBJECTIVE
Intravenous cyclosporine has been used in the treatment of active inflammatory bowel disease. However, there are serious concerns regarding its toxicity. Cyclosporine's exact place in the treatment of Crohn's disease is yet to be defined. The aims of this study are to assess the safety and efficacy of intravenous cyclosporine in treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.


METHODS
We reviewed the hospital files of all patients who received intravenous cyclosporine in Rambam Medical Center during the period of December 2000 to November 2003. The patients' charts, focusing on clinical outcomes and toxicity were recorded and analyzed.


RESULTS
Twenty patients, 10 males, seven with Crohn's disease and 13 ulcerative colitis. Seven patients underwent surgery within one year after cyclosporine therapy. Clinical response was achieved in 77.8% of Crohn's patients' treatment courses and 85.7% of ulcerative colitis patients' treatment courses. Clinical response included significant reduction in bowel movements, amount of blood and improvement in consistency of stool. No major or life-threatening adverse effects of cyclosporine were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Cyclosporine as given was as effective and safe for Crohn's disease patients as for ulcerative colitis patients.
Chermesh
Irit
I
Gastroenterology Department, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa 31096, Israel. I_Chermesh@rambam.health.gov.il
Tamir
Ada
A
Lachter
Jesse
J
Eliakim
Rami
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine