A MASKED, RANDOMIZED, DOSE-RESPONSE STUDY BETWEEN CYCLOSPORINE-A AND CYCLOSPORINE-G IN THE TREATMENT OF SIGHT-THREATENING UVEITIS OF NONINFECTIOUS ORIGIN

Thirty-two patients with sight-threatening uveitis and a decrease in v isual acuity requiring systemic therapy were randomly assigned to eith er cyclosporine A or G in a dose-escalation study. Groups received fro m 2.5 mg/kg of body weight/day to 10 mg/kg of body weight/day of eithe r drug along with low-dose prednisone. More patients taking cyclospori ne G had improved visual acuity and a decrease in macular edema, which occurred more rapidly than in the other group, even at the lower dose s tested. No difference in renal function was noted between groups at any doses tested. Four patients receiving cyclosporine G had hepatic a lterations, but only one required cessation of the drug. The study ind icates the potential usefulness of cyclosporine G, particularly at low er doses (4 mg/kg of body weight/day), which could lower the potential for serious renal complications.