Cyclosporin for Crohn's disease

Eight patients with active uncomplicated Crohn's disease, who were resistant to or intolerant of conventional treatment, were treated for 6 weeks with oral cyclosporin (mean dose 8.2 mg kg-1 day-1). Seven of the eight patients responded to treatment with cyclosporin by symptomatic improvement, weight gain and a return of serum C-reactive protein concentration towards normal. All patients relapsed on stopping cyclosporin. No serious side-effects were encountered. This favourable early experience justifies further trials using cyclosporin for active Crohn's disease.