Cyclosporin-A in the treatment of atopic dermatitis: effects on the immune system and clinical efficiency

In order to evaluate the effect of Cyclosporin-A (CyA) at doses of 5 mg/kg per day in atopic dermatitis we studied clinical effects, immunoglobulin production, lymphocytes subset, immunphenotype and local cytokine production in seven patients before and after 3 months CyA therapy. Clinically CyA was very effective in eliminating pruritus, erythema and vescicles with no significant adverse side effects. Using flow cytometric analysis we demonstrated that CyA treatment restored an overexpression of circulating CD25-positive cells. Similar results have been recorded with HLA-DR expression. CyA normalized the number of CD29 cells which were reduced in the blood of patients before starting treatment. Furthermore, after treatment, several cytokines (IL-2, IL-1α and IL-1β) had diasappeared from the epidermis. © 1994