Dermatologic Applications of Cyclosporine

Abstract

It is evident that cyclosporine A is a potent immunosuppressive agent and may become immensely valuable in the treatment of cutaneous disease. The extent of its application and efficacy is speculative, as neither the pathogenesis of many of the diseases, nor the mechanism of action of cyclosporine is fully understood. Well-designed clinical and laboratory studies are necessary to delineate its therapeutic value in a particular disorder. It must be emphasized that the systemic use of the drug is associated with several serious side effects, including nephrotoxicity and lymphoproliferative disease. Local topical application may reduce these concerns, and make treatment of benign diseases a possibility. Therefore, until these well-designed prospective studies are performed, cyclosporine's use should be limited and closely monitored.

The effect of topical cyclosporin A on the elicitation phase of allergic contact dermatitis

“…When used systemically, It can produce troublesome side-effects, the most notable bemg renal and hepatic toxicity (1). Perhaps, if CSA could be used topically, Its untoward systemic effects might be mmimized, while 1ts Imrnunusuppres-SIVe effects would be locally enhanced (2). We chose to examme the effect of topically applied CSA on the elicitatiOn phase of allergic contact dermatitis.…”