Treatment of Severe Atopic Dermatitis with Cyclosporine: A Review of Eight Patients

Atopic dermatitis is most frequently well controlled with topical therapeutic agents, but based on several studies, 10-20% of patients need systemic therapy. The most common systemic treatment for atopic dermatitis in everyday practice includes systemic corticosteroids, although there are insufficient valid data to support this. Cyclosporine is the treatment of choice for severe atopic dermatitis resistant to other commonly used treatment options, since its favorable therapeutic risk/benefit ratio is well documented in randomized placebo controlled trials, and also in uncontrolled trials. However, approximately 10% of patients with atopic dermatitis with indication for cyclosporine treatment are actually treated with this modality in Serbia, and there are no published case series on its use in this region so far. In this article, we evaluated the treatment efficacy and safety of cyclosporine microemulsion in patients with severe atopic dermatitis hospitalized at the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade from 2009 to 2012. This restrospective analysis included patients with severe forms of atopic dermatitis treated at the Department of Dermatology of the Military Medical Academy from 2009 - 2012. The hospital database was used to retrieve patients’ medical records. Approximately 200 patients were treated for atopic dermatitis and 20 patients were admitted to the hospital, 17 due to severe forms of disease. In total, 8 of 17 (47.05%) hospitalized patients with severe forms or erythroderma due to atopic dermatitis were treated with cyclosporine microemulsion with an initial dose of 4-5 mg/kg. Laboratory tests were done before treatment, 7 days later, and/or at the end of hospitalization. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated based on the percentage of reduction of skin lesions from baseline to the end of hospital treatment (early efficacy), and at the end of follow-up (late efficacy). Duration of therapy, adverse events, treatment efficacy and reasons for treatment cessation were recorded during the follow-up period. There were five male and 3 female patients, with an average age of 36.8 years (15 - 60 years). Previous treatment modalities in all patients included emollients, topical and systemic corticosteroids and PUVA therapy. The average dose of cyclosporine was 4.5±0,5 mg/kg. Median reduction of skin lesions at discharge was 60%. There was no need for further hospitalization after an average of 10±3.2 days. Mean duration of treatment was 16 months (3 - 24), with an average reduction of skin lesions of 75% during follow-up. Arterial blood pressure increased in 3/8 (37.5%) patients, regardless of their age, with and average increase of systolic blood pressure of 11.9±11.6 mm Hg (median 7.5, 0-30 mm Hg) and diastolic blood pressure of 5.6±12.9 mm Hg (median 0, -10-20). Mean increase in urea concentration was 0.3 mmol/L (11.8%) and creatinine increased only in three patients by 4.2% (median increase 4 mmol/L). Hypertension was found in three patients during follow-up, and there were no other adverse events. In conclusion, based on previous studies and this small case series of hospitalized patients with severe forms of atopic dermatitis including erythroderma, cyclosporine can be regarded as a safe and effective treatment modality and it can be recommended as first line therapy in severe forms of atopic dermatitis refractory to topical therapy and phototherapy. Long term therapy, however, should be avoided and a maximum 1-2 year therapy is recommended.