Cyclosporine in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory process of unknown etiology that leads to significant morbidity and accelerated mortality in the 10 to 15% of patients with severe proliferative and erosive synovitis that is unresponsive to conventional therapies. T cells play a key role in the initiation and perpetuation of the process. Based on its immune action, cyclosporine has been used in rheumatoid arthritis in a variety of worldwide clinical trials. This article presents the results of several pivotal studies and outlines the development of cyclosporine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.