EFFECT OF TOPICAL CYCLOSPORINE-A ON CONJUNCTIVAL T-CELLS IN PATIENTS WITH SECONDARY SJOGRENS-SYNDROME

The effect of topical cyclosporin A on conjunctival T cells was studie d in nine patients with secondary Sjogren's disease. Patients had conj unctival biopsies performed before and after a 6-week course of topica l cyclosporin. Epithelium and substantia propria in the Sjogren's pati ents before treatment showed significantly more CD4+ cells than specim ens taken from nine age- and sex-matched controls. Following treatment with topical cyclosporin, there was a significant reduction in the nu mber of CD4+ cells in both the conjunctival epithelium and substantia propria. Despite the fact that the treatment resulted in immunopatholo gical improvement, the clinical benefit was not as favorable. Our resu lts suggest that topical cyclosporin may have a local immunosuppressiv e effect on the conjunctiva in patients with Sjogren's disease.