Clinical Medicine Insights: Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Disorders

Objective: To investigate clinical effectiveness of prednisolone (PSL) and cyclosporin A (CyA), particularly continuous intravenous administration of the latter, in patients with interstitial pneumonia (IP) associated with polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM).

Methods: We reviewed the clinical findings and therapeutic outcomes of patients with PM/DM who had received PSL and CyA (PSL + CyA, n = 21 for DM and 2 for PM) or the former alone

(n = 12 for DM and 7 for PM). All patients receiving PSL + CyA had active IP.

Results: Fifteen of the 21 DM patients receiving PSL + CyA showed favorable therapeutic outcomes of IP (recovery group), while the remaining 6 died of respiratory failure (death group). Before treatment PaO2 in room air and %VC were significantly lower, and the total CT score was significantly higher in the death group than in the recovery one. Continuous intravenous administration of CyA was performed in 6 patients for severe IP requiring oxygen therapy, and of these 2 showed complete recovery from it.

Conclusions: Coadministration of PSL and CyA, particularly continuous intravenous infusion of the latter, from the early phase of illness may be a potent therapeutic option for PM/DM patients with decreases in PaO2 and %VC and/or a high total CT score suggestive of a poor prognosis.