Follow-up of cyclosporin A treatment in Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus: lack of long-term effects

✍ Scribed by S. Martin; G. Schernthaner; J. Nerup; F. A. Gries; V. A. Koivisto; J. Dupré; E. Standl; P. Hamet; R. McArthur; M. H. Tan; K. Dawson; A. E. Mehta; S. Van Vliet; B. von Graffenried; C. Stiller; H. Kolb

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 541 KB
• Volume: 34
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0012-186X
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00403182

✦ Synopsis

In the Canadian/European randomized controlled study on cyclosporin A (CsA) in recent onset Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes, treatment with the immunosuppressive drug had increased and maintained Beta-cell function and clinical remission during the first 12 months. Following discontinuation of the study drug and double-blinding after a mean of 13.8 months former CsA patients doubled the daily insulin dose within 6 months reaching the level of former placebo patients. The difference in Beta-cell function between the two groups was also lost. Metabolic control (HbA1c) was transiently worse in the former CsA group. Adverse effects of cyclosporin A on systolic blood pressure, haemoglobin levels, serum potassium and creatinine levels also remitted during that time. We conclude that treatment with cyclosporin A for a mean of 13.8 months had no long-lasting effect on the course of Type 1 diabetes persisting beyond drug discontinuation.