Immunological responses in an infant after cyclosporine A exposure during pregnancy.

Pregnancy in transplant recipients is not uncommon. Cyclosporin A may be used as an immunosuppressive drug in these patients. Almost no data exist on the effects of cyclosporin A on the immune system of infants who have been exposed to this drug in utero. The infant of a liver transplant recipient was followed during the first 2 years of life. Shortly after birth all lymphocyte subsets were low, especially for B-cells. The distribution of lymphocytes returned to low normal ranges within the first 2 years of life, except for CD8 values that stayed below normal. There were no signs of persistent adverse effects of cyclosporin A on the functional integrity of the immune system.