Induction and maintenance of remission with the use of long-term oral cyclosporine therapy in severe, steroid-refractory ulcerative or Crohn colitis

Oral cyclosporine therapy has proven to be an alternative to emergency colectomy in steroid-refractory colitis. The therapeutic value, optimal dosage and long-term efficacy and safety of this formulation have not been well studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical outcome of patients with steroid-resistant severe colitis treated with Sandimmune Neoral (Novartis) controlled by a two-point sampling time method. Patients and methods: During the past 4 years, 30 patients were treated with oral cyclosporine because of severe active colitis (21 females, 9 males; mean age: 40,3 years; 26 patients w…