EFFECT OF LOW-DOSE CYCLOSPORINE-A ON SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS DISEASE-ACTIVITY

Objective. To determine the effect of low-dose cyclosporin A (CSA) tre atment on disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Meth ods. All patients in the study had active disease as defined by at lea st the presence of a low CH50 level. Patients were initially given 3 m g/kg/day of CSA. Dosages were adjusted individually at every visit, ac cording to both clinical and laboratory data. Results. Eleven women wi th SLE were enrolled in the study; 10 were evaluable. After 20 weeks o f CSA treatment, the mean score for disease activity on the SLE Diseas e Activity Index decreased significantly, from 10.6 to 3.8 (P = 0.02). The titer of antinuclear antibodies decreased in 8 patients and the l evel of anti-DNA antibodies decreased in 5. Side effects included hype rtension (40%), hypertrichosis (30%), gingival hypertrophy (10%), and a rise in the blood urea nitrogen level. Serum creatinine levels remai ned unchanged. Conclusion. The favorable responses observed in our pat ients strongly suggest that low-dose CSA can reduce the disease activi ty of SLE.