The use of combined intravenous pulse methylprednisolone and oral cyclosporin A in the treatment of corneal graft rejection: a preliminary study.

PURPOSE: Oral cyclosporin A used in addition to high-dose intravenous pulse methylprednisolone has been shown to have an adjunctive effect in reversing the rejection of liver and renal transplants. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the benefits and risks of this combined drug therapy in acute corneal graft rejection.

METHODS

Eleven patients with acute corneal graft rejection received the combined regimen of a single pulse of intravenous methylprednisolone (500 mg) and a low dose of oral cyclosporin A (to maintain a trough blood level of 100-200 micrograms/l).

RESULTS

At a mean follow-up of 16.5 months (range 8-22 months) from the presentation of the graft rejection, reversal of graft rejection was achieved in 10 of 11 cases (90.9%). No recurrence of graft rejection was encountered during the study period. One patient developed a duodenal ulcer, which healed after medical treatment. No other complications were encountered.

CONCLUSIONS

The high efficacy and low risk of the combined regimen demonstrated in this preliminary study call for a larger-scale prospective double-masked study to confirm the value of this treatment protocol.