Cyclosporin A in experimental lung transplantation.

Cyclosporin A (Cy A) has been used in combination with low-dose azathioprine (2 mg/kg/day for 14 days) or other immunosuppressives to treat 13 canine lung allograft recipients. Two of five dogs treated with Cy A and azathioprine survive at 13 and 6 months, respectively, with normal lung function and no evident rejection. The other three dogs in this group survived for over 5 months despite evidence of rejection which was reversed with methylprednisolone (50 mg/kg/day for 3 to 5 days). The addition of prophylactic corticosteroids or their substitution for azathioprine resulted in decreased survival without preventing rejection better. The lung allograft rejection that occurred with Cy A was usually later in onset and more easily reversed by corticosteroids than the lung rejection that occurred with standard immunosuppression. Cy A rejection was also sometimes qualitatively different. Perivascular mononuclear cell cuffs and a proportionally greater decrease in allograft perfusion with respect to ventilation were often more prominent than in rejection with standard immunosuppression. In some instances, decreased allograft perfusion evidenced rejection while the plain chest roentgenogram and ventilation remained normal. Except for infection, which only occurred in animals receiving prophylactic corticosteroids, there was no toxicity from Cy A. These findings indicate that this drug is the safest, most effective immunosuppressive agent yet available for use in lung transplantation.