A Clinical Experience of Cyclosporin A in Severe Atopic Dermatitis of Children.
- Author:
Eunyoung KO
1
;
Daehyun LIM
;
Junghee KIM
;
Byongkwan SON
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, Korea. dhyunlim@inha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Severe atopic dermatitis;
Cyclosporin A
- MeSH:
Abdominal Pain;
Child*;
Cyclosporine*;
Dermatitis, Atopic*;
Female;
Humans;
Quality of Life
- From:Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease
2002;12(4):272-281
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Severe atopic dermatitis is a condition that can seriously affect the quality of life. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and side effect of cyclosporin A treatment in children. METHODS: Nine children(male 7, female 2) with severe atopic dermatitis resistant to conventional therapy and/or significant suffering and disability. The initial dose of cyclosporin A was 2.1-5.2 mg/kg/day and the duration of treatment was 4-6 weeks. The severity and extent of atopic dermatitis were evaluated with modified criteria of Hanifin and Rajka, at 0, 2, 4 and 6th week and after cessation of cyclosporin, at 10th week. Total clinical score was calculated as the average of both extent and severity score. RESULTS: There are significant improvement in both of the symptom severity and the extent of atopic dermatitis. The mean severity and extent scores were 92% and 88% before treatment and 28% and 34% after 6 weeks' treatment. The overall change of the total clinical score was 59% of decrease. Two patients had to stop the drug after 4 weeks of treatment because of severe abdominal pain, especially at night. After stopping the drug, at the 10th weeks' evaluation, 3 patients showed symptomatic exacervations but 6 patients maintain their improved state only with conventional treatment. CONCLUSION : Despite the side effect, cyclosporin A gave a rapid clinical response to severe refractory atopic dermatitis in children.
