Effects of cyclosporin A on active Crohn's disease

Seven patients with active Crohn's disease were treated with cyclosporin A orally for 16 weeks. The initial dose was 8 mg/kg/day and the subsequent dose was adjusted to maintain the plasma concentration of cyclosporin A of approximately 200 ng/ml. The mean value of the Crohn's disease activity index before treatment was 194.3 +/- 57.4. It was gradually decreased reaching a nadir at 12 weeks (139.0 +/- 45.6, p less than 0.05) and one enterocutaneous fistula was closed. White blood cell counts, hemoglobin and alpha-2-globulin did not significantly improve during treatment. Cyclosporin A could be indicated when steroids, sulfasalazine or azathioprine are not effective or not tolerated.