Each year, thousands of heart, kidney, and liver transplants are performed and several thousands patients are put on a wait-list. These surgeries are expensive, and the goal is for every transplant to be successful. Cyclosporine ensures that transplanted organs are not rejected. Cyclosporine also helps to treat chronic dry eyes, a disease that causes pain and weakening of vision. Cyclosporine has associated risks including life-threatening ones, and these have to be weighed against the benefits before taking the medication.
Organ Transplant
The major reason for failure of transplanted organs is rejection by the body. When an organ is transplanted, the body recognizes it as a strange object and releases T-cells, white blood cell fighting agents, to destroy the organ. Without any help, the T-cells will eventually lead to the rejection of the organ, and the rejection-associated immune response can lead to fatality. Cyclosporine works at suppressing T-cells so that they do not proliferate and cause damage to the transplanted organ. It also inhibits T-cells, making them less functional. This ensures that the transplanted organ has a higher chance of long-term survival.
Chronic Dry Eyes
Cyslosporine also helps to treat chronic dry eyes, a disease that affects thousands of people and requires continuous therapy. Chronic dry eyes result from reduced production of tears as a result of inflammation in the eye. Chronic dry eyes causes weakened eyesight, eye discharge, irritation, eye pain, eye discomfort and injuries to the eyes. Cyclosporine has anti-inflammatory benefits and is able to reduce inflammation in the eye, as well as increase the production of tears. This protects the eye from dryness and several other discomforts. It also preserves vision.
Side Effects
Cyclosporine has several side effects due to its immune suppressive actions on the T-cells as well as inherent properties. One of the most serious side effects is kidney toxicity, which occurs in up to 37 percent of liver transplant patient, 25 percent of kidney transplant patients and 38 percent of heart transplant patients. Liver toxicity is another serious side effect that occurs in up to 4 percent of kidney transplant patients, 7 percent of heart transplant patients and 4 percent of liver transplant patients. Since cyclosporine suppresses the immune system, there is a risk of lymphoma, which is cancer of the cells of the immune system. Viral and bacterial infections are also highly possible, since the body's natural defense mechanism is compromised by cyclosporine. However, most patients are routinely prescribed antibiotics and antiviral medications to prevent infections while on the medication.
Other common side infects include hypertension, excessive hair growth, nausea, vomiting, acne, tremors and overgrowth of the gum tissues. When applied to the eyes, burning occurred in about 17 percent of the patients. Discharge, pain and itching were also common.
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