Efficacy of cyclosporin-A in the long-term management of thrombocytopenia associated with systemic lupus erythematosus

Thrombocytopenia frequently complicates systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE), and its long-term management may be problematic. Intravenous immunoglobulins and high doses of steroids are often effective as induction therapy, but thrombocytopenia frequently relapses during steroid tapering. Several immunosuppressive agents have been evaluated as induction or maintenance therapy in small series or in case reports. We describe six consecutive unselected SLE patients where cyclosporin-A ( CyA) was effective and safe in the long-term management of thrombocytopenia and allowed steroid tapering. One relapse occurred during CyA reduction and responded to CyA dose adjustment. Steroids could be stopped in three out of six patients, and were maintained at very low doses in the remaining patients. CyA was stopped in one patient after one year of treatment, without relapse at month 11+ from discontinuation. No severe side effects were documented. Overall, these data suggest that CyA may prove to be an effective and safe therapeutic option for SLE- related thrombocytopenia.