Cyclosporin A-Induced Hyperlipidemia

Cyclosporin A (CsA) is an immunosuppressant drug widely used in organ transplant recipients and patients with auto-immune disorders. Long-term treatment with CsA is associated with hyperlipidemia and an increased risk of atherosclerosis. The mechanisms by which cyclosporin A causes hyperlipidemia are unclear. Cell and animal studies have pointed to various mechanisms that may mediate CsA-induced hyperlipidemia. In this review we will give an overview of CsA-induced hyperlipidemia, with a focus on the data available that might explain the underlying mechanism(s) and describe the available treatment regimes used to treat hyperlipidemia induced by immunosuppressant drugs.