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Promotion of corneal allograft survival with leflunomide
J Y Niederkorn1, L S Lang, J Ross
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235.
Purpose:
The efficacy of the antirejection drug leflunomide was evaluated in a rat model of penetrating keratoplasty.
Methods:
Corneal grafts from inbred Lewis rats were transplanted orthotopically to inbred Wistar-Furth (WF) recipients. WF rats received either Leflunomide (HWA 486), the active metabolite of leflunomide (A77-1726A), or cyclosporin A, administered orally beginning 2 days before transplantation and continuing for 30 days thereafter. Graft survival was assessed clinically three times per week, and mean survival times were determined.
Results:
Oral administration of either leflunomide or the salt of its active metabolite resulted in a significant prolongation of graft survival time. Moreover, almost one third of the grafts survived for an additional 3 weeks, even after drug treatment was discontinued.
Conclusion:
The results indicate that leflunomide holds considerable promise as an antirejection drug for use in recipients of corneal transplants in whom cyclosporin A and steroids are contraindicated.