Cyclosporin for a severe case of aspirin-induced asthma.

Cyclosporin, an immunosupressive drug, predominantly inhibits T -lymphocyte dependent immune responses by interfering with synthesis of lymphokines. T-lymphocytes are an important source of inflammatory mediators, and some aspects of asthma may be accounted for by alterations in release of cytokines [1]. Cyclosporin was used to treat a 42 yr old woman with asthma. She has been under our treatment since 1975 when diagnosis of aspirin intolerance was established (2, 3) by oral provocation tests. Skin tests to common airborne allergens were negative, serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) was 101 IU·m1·1• Her asthma was of severe type and over the years 1976-1989 she was on chronic corticotherapy at a dose of 20-30 mg·day·1• nature of the present report has to be stressed. We have not observed any side-effects of cyclosporin treatment, possibly because the drug was given at a low-dose. Cyclosporin side-effects are, however, of concern and should be kept in mind in patients with bronchial asthma possibly subjected to cyclosporin treatment in the future.