Cyclosporine is one of the strongest immunosuppressive agents. It is derived from the extracts of the soil fungi called Tolypocladium inflatum. Cyclosporine was discovered in 1971 but it wasn't until 1976 that its immunosuppressive qualities were revealed.
It was approved for clinical use in 1983 and is primarily used to reduce organ transplant rejection. When a person gets an organ transplant, the white blood cells see the new organ as a foreign agent and try to destroy it. Cyclosporine prevents the immune system from attacking the transplanted organ. The brand names for cyclosporine include Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune and Apo-Cyclosporine (Canadian). Cyclosporine also is used for the treatment of severe cases of conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.
Transplants
The major problem with heart, liver and kidney transplants is that the body rejects the new organ. The transplanted organ may function properly for a while before being rejected, or, in some cases, the body may reject the organ repeatedly. Doctors do not know why this happens, so they give most transplant patients a long-term prescription of cyclosporine as a precaution. Bone marrow transplant patients who are a risk of developing a graft-vs.-host disease also can benefit from cyclosporine. Concentration levels of cyclosporine in transplant patients have to be monitored on almost a daily basis for the first six months after the transplant.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Adult patients of rheumatoid arthritis who cannot tolerate Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents (NSAIAs) or Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDS) can use cyclosporine as an alternative. In severe cases, rheumatoid arthritis patients might not respond favorably to methotrexate treatment. For such cases, doctors recommend the use of cyclosporine in conjunction with methotrexate. In rheumatoid arthritis patients, the effects of cyclosporine generally appear after four to six weeks.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin condition that is caused by a faulty autoimmune system. Patients who do not respond well to traditional psoriasis treatments (like methotrexate, retinoids etc) or are unable to use them, have the option of using cyclosporine as a treatment. Psoriasis patients can expect positive results after two weeks.
Other Conditions
Cyclosporine has also proven to be beneficial for people suffering from chronic cases of Crohn's disease (intestine inflammation), nephritic syndrome (kidney inflammation) and atopic dermatitis (chronic eczema).
Side Effects
Cyclosporine, like most drugs derived form fungi, may raise the levels of toxins in the body. Some side effects may not appear until after a prolonged use of cyclosporine. The major side effects of cyclosporine are nephrotoxicity (high levels of toxins in kidney) and hypertension (high blood pressure). Other side effects include: bleeding gums, fevers, seizures, nausea and vomiting.
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