title: Efficacy of topical cyclosporin A 0.05% in conjunctival impression cytology specimens and clinical findings of severe vernal keratoconjunctivitis in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of topical cyclosporin A 0.05% in managing the symptoms of severe vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four children with severe VKC were included in this study. All 54 patients were treated with topical cyclosporin A (CsA) 0.05% for 3 months. Ocular signs and symptoms were scored in all patients at entry and after 3 months. Conjunctival impression cytology specimens were examined on the day of enrollment and at the end of the treatment period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean scores for severity of signs and symptoms significantly decreased after 3 months compared with those at entry (P<0.001). The density of inflammatory cells in the conjunctival impression cytology specimens decreased significantly. No side effects of the treatment with CsA 0.05% eyedrops were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical CsA 0.05% eyedrops were found to be safe and effective in the treatment of patients with VKC. Consistent with these results, topical CsA may efficiently reduce conjunctival inflammation in severe VKC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey. ukeklikci@yahoo.com.|Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, TR-21280, Turkey. ukeklikci@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ugur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Keklikci
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sevda I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Soker
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yildirim B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Sakalar
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Unlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selver
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozekinci
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selcuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tunik
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine