title: Intravenous cyclosporine for inflammatory bowel disease--safe and effective.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa 31096, Israel. I_Chermesh@rambam.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Irit
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chermesh
authors.forename: Ada
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamir
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lachter
authors.forename: Rami
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eliakim
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine