Cyclosporine Reduces Sclerosis in Morphea: A Retrospective Study in 12 Patients and a Literature Review

The treatment of severe morphea is challenging, and treatment experience concerning the use of immunosuppressive agents for this condition is limited.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the use of cyclosporine, its tolerability, and its effect on skin sclerosis.

Patients with severe morphea who underwent treatment with cyclosporine were studied retrospectively.

Five of 12 patients with morphea showed complete remission and 6 patients had partial remission at the end of therapy (9-46 months, median 14) under a median cyclosporine dose of 2.4 mg/kg. The mean affected body surface area fell from 50% (2-80, median 65) to 17% (0-40, median 18). Side effects were hypertension, elevated transaminases, cholesterol, and weight gain.

Cyclosporine can be effective in morphea. The side effects were reversible. However, the duration of treatment with cyclosporine is limited because of its potential permanent side effects. Prospective placebo-controlled studies are needed to establish the superiority of cyclosporine over other immunosuppressive drugs in this setting.