In vivo potentiation of cyclosporine immunosuppression by calcium antagonists.

We have shown that the addition of verapamil, a calcium channel blocking agent, or trifluoperazine, a phenothiazine, to a regiment using the immunosuppressive agent Cs significantly enhances heterotopic cardiac allograft survival in an ACI to Lewis transplant model. This work verifies previous in vitro work from our laboratory and offers a potential therapeutic strategy to decrease the dose of Cs needed for effective immunosuppression while perhaps lessening its dose-related side effects.