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Cyclosporin

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Book cover Antirheumatic Therapy: Actions and Outcomes

Part of the book series: Progress in Inflammation Research ((PIR))

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Abstract

Cyclosporin A (CsA) was discovered and isolated in 1971 as a fungal metabolite produced by Tylopocladium inflatum with only weak antimicrobial properties. After the initial deception the immunosuppressive effect of CsA was discovered and explored in the Sandoz laboratories in the years thereafter [1, 2]. Since its first use in humans in 1978 CsA has led to a dramatic improvement in the field of organ transplantation [3]. Based on its mode of action it has also been used as an immunosuppressive agent in many other diseases, mainly autoimmune or rheumatologic conditions. The success of CsA in the clinical treatment of organ transplant patients was never equalled in rheumatology, but CsA certainly has a place as immunosuppressive agent in the treatment of many autoimmune diseases, especially in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center, P.O. Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Arno W. R. van Kuijk

  2. Jan van Breemen Institute, Dr Jan van Breemenstraat 2, 1056 AB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Arno W. R. van Kuijk & Ben A. C. Dijkmans

  3. Department of Rheumatology, Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Ben A. C. Dijkmans

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  1. Arno W. R. van Kuijk
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  2. Ben A. C. Dijkmans
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, St. Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, Victoria Street Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW, 2010, Australia

    Richard O. Day

  2. 546 Dept. of Rheumatology, University Hospital Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Piet L. C. M. van Riel

  3. Carl M.Pearson Professor of Rheumatology, 1000 Veteran Ave Rm 32-59, Los Angeles, CA, 90025-1670, USA

    Daniel E. Fürst

  4. Department of Rheumatology, St Vicent’s University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Barry Bresnihan

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© 2005 Birkhäuser Verlag Basel/Switzerland

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van Kuijk, A.W.R., Dijkmans, B.A.C. (2005). Cyclosporin. In: Day, R.O., Fürst, D.E., van Riel, P.L.C.M., Bresnihan, B. (eds) Antirheumatic Therapy: Actions and Outcomes. Progress in Inflammation Research. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-7726-7_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-7726-7_11

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