Cyclosporine treatment for dermatomyositis/polymyositis.

We report one case of dermatomyositis and one case of polymyositis and scleroderma in which the patients' condition improved after treatment with cyclosporine (cyclosporine A). Both patients' conditions were unresponsive to systemic steroid therapy. The addition of cyclosporine to the regimen enabled us to taper the steroid dosage; the lesions resolved and the results of laboratory tests returned to normal. In nine of thirteen studies of dermatomyositis treated with cyclosporine reported in the literature, definite benefit was achieved and no serious toxicity was noted.