Benefit/risk of cyclosporine in rheumatoid arthritis
E. Gremese, G.F. Ferraccioli
ABSTRACT
Combination therapy has emerged as a crucial therapeutic tool to control
aggressive rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Cyclosporine (CsA) when combined with
methotrexate (MTX) has shown substantial benefit in clinical practice. The
primary benefit is its positive effect in the control of joint-bone erosions.
The most feared adverse effect is the development of nephrotoxicity, which may
be in part hemodynamic and in part structural, i.e. fibrotic. Careful monitoring
of concomitant drugs, hypertension and through blood levels should allow the
patient to maintain normal renal function. The successful employment of CsA in
lupus nephritis clearly supports this statement.
Key words
Cyclosporine, rheumatoid arthritis.
Please address correspondence to: Prof. Gianfranco Ferraccioli, MD, Division
of Rheumatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, School of Medicine,
CIC-Via Moscati 31, 00168 Rome, Italy.
E-mail: gf.ferraccioli@rm.unicatt.it
Clin Exp Rheumatol 2004; 22 (Suppl. 35): S101-S107.
© Copyright Clinical and Experimental
Rheumatology 2004.