Abstract |
Abstract To determine the efficacy of cyclosporin A (CysA) for the treatment of steroid-resistant interstitial pneumonitis (IP), we enrolled 25 patients with various rheumatic diseases and steroid-resistant IP in a pilot study [4 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 2 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 11 with polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM), 4 with systemic sclerosis (SSc), 1 with mixed connective tissue disease ( MCTD), 3 with Sjögren syndrome (SS)]. Twelve patients (48%) showed a persistent response to CysA therapy, and 7 of them had PM/DM, including so-called amyopathic DM. Patients with a persistent response had moderately elevated lactate dehydroxygenase (LDH) levels, whereas patients who died had much higher LDH levels and hypoxia. Even patients with low blood levels of CysA achieved a persistent response. In responding patients, the symptoms, chest X-ray findings, arterial oxygen tension, and LDH level all improved after less than 4 weeks. In conclusion, CysA seem to be useful for treating patients with steroid-resistant IP, whose duration is short and severity is mild.
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Authors | Y Tokano, H Ogasawara, S Ando, T Fujii, H Kaneko, N Tamura, T Yano, K Hirokawa, T Fukazawa, A Murashima, S Kobayashi, I Sekigawa, Y Takasaki, N Iida, H Hashimoto |
Journal | Modern rheumatology
(Mod Rheumatol)
Vol. 12
Issue 4
Pg. 305-10
(Dec 2002)
ISSN: 1439-7595 [Print] England |
PMID | 24383997
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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