Corticosteroid refractory radiation pneumonitis that remarkably responded to cyclosporin A

Intern Med. 2002 Sep;41(9):730-3. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.41.730.

Abstract

Radiation therapy is commonly used for the treatment of lung cancer. However, radiation pneumonitis frequently occurs as a complication of the radiation therapy. Although corticosteroids are widely used for the treatment of radiation pneumonitis, they are not always effective. In this report, we used cyclosporin A in the treatment of a patient suffering from steroid-refractory radiation pneumonitis. To our knowledge, this is the first report in which cyclosporin A was successfully used in the treatment of radiation pneumonitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cyclosporine / therapeutic use*
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung / drug effects*
  • Lung / radiation effects
  • Male
  • Radiation Pneumonitis / diagnostic imaging
  • Radiation Pneumonitis / drug therapy*
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Cyclosporine