Uses of Cyclosporine

Cyclosprorine is immunosuppressive agent medication and it is used to reduce the body's immunity to organ transplants. Its discovery, in 1971, began a new era in immunopharmacology because it was the first immonosuppressive drug to allow for selective regulation of T-cells, without adverse toxicity. Cyclosporine is also responsible for the advance of the transplant field because it greatly decreases the patient's likelihood of organ rejection.

• Organ Transplant Surgery

Uses

• The human body automatically tries to reject foreign objects (such as transplanted organs). Cyclosporine is used to prolong the survival of allogeneic transplants (those taken from two individuals of the same species) involving heart, kidney, pancreas, bone marrow, small intestine, lung and skin. According to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), it can also suppress some humoral immunity (immunity created by secretion of antibodies), hypersensitivity and allergic encephalomyelitis.

Features

• Cyclosporine is a fungal peptide that has been isolated from Tolypocladium inflatum Gams (a type of fungus). It is also the first immonosuppressant that actively acted to suppress T-cell (a type of white blood cell) immunity. Furthermore, cyclosporine is also used in prophylaxis of host versus graft disease (a common complication of a bone marrow transplant), according to "Origins of Drugs in Current Use" by Harriet Upton. Other uses include psoriasis (chronic, noncontagious autoimmune disease), rheumatoid arthritis, nephorotic syndrome (nonspecific disorder that damages kidneys), and atopic dermatitis (type of skin disease).

Function

• Cyclosporine works by inhibiting immunocompetent lymphocytes such as the T-lymphocytes. While the T-suppressor cell may also be suppressed, the T-helper cell is the ultimate target. Cyclosporine may also inhibit lymphokine release and production, according to the FDA.

Side Effects

• Cyclosporine has many serious side effects. These include high blood pressure as well as liver and kidney problems. It may also reduce the body's natural ability to fight off infection. Other side effects include, diarrhea, heartburn, headache, gas, acne, muscle pain, ear problems, depression, breast enlargement in men, insomnia, loss of consciousness, yellowing of the eyes and skin, seizures, moodiness, rash and swelling.

Considerations

• Cyclosporine's discovery is directly responsible for a new era in medical research called selective lymphocyte inhibition. It changed the face of the transplant industry because it enabled the expertise in technical, clinical, and immunobiological aspects of transplantation to be put into practice, according to Harriet Upton. Unfortunately, transplanted organs continue to be rejected by certain individuals, for no apparent reason, and further research still needs to be conducted to address this problem.