Regression of cyclosporia-induced gingival overgrowth upon interruption of drug therapy

Immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporin has been known to cause gingival overgrowth in humans. It usually is not feasible to suspend this therapy to treat the adverse side effect. This case report describes a renal transplant patient who had used both cyclosporin and nifedipine for more than 10 years but had to discontinue immunosuppressive drug therapy due to organ rejection. Discontinuing therapy led to almost complete regression of the gingival overgrowth in a few months after interruption of cyclosporin therapy only. These findings suggest that the discontinuation of cyclosporin results in the reversal of gingival overgrowth without surgical intervention and may be the most definitive form of therapy for this condition in susceptible individuals as new drugs become available.