Treatment of severe atopic dermatitis patients with cyclosporin A (CyA): The long-term safety and efficacy

Data on the use of oral cyclosporin A (CyA) therapy for severe adult atopic dermatitis (AD) have accumulated since 1987, and CyA has a place in the long-term treatment of severe AD provided that appropriate patients are selected and careful monitoring is performed. We have treated with 30 severe AD patients (19 males and II females) refractory to systemic steroids since 1992, for 1-42 months (M) (mean 12.4M, 1~6M: 13, 7~12M: 6, 13~24M: 9, 25M~: 2). Fourteen of these patients have shown an improvement in their symptoms. Five subjects are still continuing the CyA treatment. Seven subjects were readministered with CyA at each relapse (intermittent therapy); four patients significantly improved, but 2 changed their treatment to topical steroid ointment therapy. Three patients did not want to continue this therapy and returned to systemic steroid therapy. An excebation of the eruptions was seen in one subject. The blood pressure increased slightly in one subject. Based on the present study, CyA was found to produce a rapid and highly significant improvement in 23 patients (76.6%). In addition, no serious side effects were observed even in the long-term therapy.