Relapse of systemic lupus erythematosus in a patient receiving cyclosporine A.

Cyclosporine A (CyA) is being increasingly used as an immunosuppressive agent to treat various autoimmune diseases. A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) receiving CyA after renal transplantation suffered a disease relapse associated with high serum CyA levels. Lowering of the CyA dose and the start of steroids resulted in a rapid improvement in her condition. Trials evaluating CyA for SLE should proceed with caution since under certain circumstances this drug may exacerbate disease activity.