ABSTRACT
Ciclosporin is a lipophilic cyclic polypeptide comprised of 11 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 1202 daltons. Ciclosporin exerts immunosuppressant effects mainly by preventing the activation of T lymphocytes, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin disorders such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Ciclosporin is licensed as an immunosuppressant following solid organ transplantation and in the prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host disease following bone marrow transplantation. Ciclosporin has been shown to greatly improve the quality of life in patients with psoriasis in randomized controlled trials. There are differences in the bioavailability of the various formulations and brands of ciclosporin. Ciclosporin interacts with a large number of drugs, and a database for drug interactions such as the current British National Formulary should be consulted for a full list. Ciclosporin is not considered teratogenic. Ciclosporin is excreted in breast milk.
