[Cyclosporin A in therapy of chronic uveitis]

48 patients with chronic severe uveitis of pressumed noninfectious origin resistent to corticosteroids have been treated with Cyclosporin A. All patients had an initial loading dose of 5 mg/kg/day followed by a dose reduction according to ocular inflammatory activity and tolerability and according the guidelines by BenEzra, Nussenblatt and Timonen. Most of the patients received additional corticosteroids in a low dose. 35 out of these 48 patients (13 suffering from intermediate uveitis, 11 from retinal vasculitis, 5 panuveitis, 4 "pressumed histoplasmosis" and 2 sympathetic ophthalmia) were treated for 1 year and observed after withdrawing of Sandimmun for at least 6 months. The majority of these patients have manifested a positive therapeutic response to Cyclosporine, in particular patients suffering from vasculitis, panuveitis and sympathetic ophthalmia. All 35 patients were treated before for a long time with steroids without success, 19 out of these 35 in addition with cytotoxic agents. The immunosuppressive effect of Cyclosporine was not permanent, frequently the inflammation relapsed on reduction of dosage or withdrawing of the drug. Guidelines for combined regimen (Cyclosporine and corticosteroids and vitrectomy) were given. Although a large variety of side effects were reported the compliance was good.