Introduction – What is Ciclosporin A?
Ciclosporin A is an immunosuppressive agent, i.e. a substance that suppresses the immune system and thus downregulates an immune response. For example, Ciclosporin A can be used after transplantation of different organs to prevent the body’s immune system from attacking the foreign organ (transplant). Ciclosporin A is also used after bone marrow transplantation to prevent the stem cells used from being rejected. Furthermore, many autoimmune diseases can be treated with it.
Indications for Ciclosporin A
As an immunosuppressive substance, Ciclosporin A prevents an undesired reaction of the immune system against various cells. This results in two main indications for Ciclosporin A: Transplantation Autoimmune diseases
- Transplants
- Autoimmune diseases
In transplantation, foreign material in the form of organs (kidney, liver, lung, heart, etc. ), tissues (muscle, bone, skin, etc.)
or cells (stem cells) is transplanted (transferred) from a donor body to the recipient (sick person). Typically, the immune system reacts with a distinct immune response to the transplant, since it recognizes the transplant as “foreign” and wants to fight it off. This leads to a rejection reaction, the transplant can be damaged and may have to be removed.
In the worst case, the excessive activity of the immune system can lead to life-threatening complications. In order to alleviate this reaction of the immune system, Ciclosporin A is used in addition to other immune suppressants. It is important to strictly adhere to the correct effective levels, the patient must adhere exactly to the times of intake planned by the doctor!
Another important indication for Ciclosporin A are autoimmune diseases. Here, too, the immune system reacts strongly, but to the body’s own cells. Well-known examples are rheumatoid arthritis (inflammation of joints), psoriasis and the thyroid disease Hashimoto thyroiditis. Ciclosporin A can be used to alleviate the symptoms, especially in the case of highly pronounced autoimmune processes. Another area of application is chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
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