Cyclosporine A

Cyclosporine A is a cyclic polypeptide that inhibits antigen - induced T cell activation due to a decrease in the synthesis of T cell activating factors - IL-2, IL-3 and INF-γ. It is the drug of first choice for immunosuppression in organ and bone marrow transplants. It is also used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases (psoriasis unresponsive to standard treatment, SLE with visceral involvement, systemic scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.). Side effects include nephrotoxicity, reversible hepatic impairment, hypertension, hyperglycaemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertrichosis. Nevertheless, it is one of the best tolerated drugs (immunosuppressants) with the greatest clinical effect.