Chronic actinic dermatitis treated with cyclosporine-A

Eur J Dermatol. 2002 Sep-Oct;12(5):455-7.

Abstract

Chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD) groups together all chronic photodermatosis with light photosensitivity. We report the case of a 69-year-old man who, for over one year, had presented a reddish-brown erythema and shedding, with thickened and hypo-elastic skin on the face, scalp, neck and on the back of the hands and forearms. Patch tests were positive to isoeugenolo 1% and photo-patch tests showed a positivity to phenotiazine 2%. After a short and ineffective treatment with beta-carotene and photo-protectors, the clinical picture was resolved with the administration of oral steroids but with a relapse of the dermatitis once the dosage was lowered. We therefore started treatment with cyclosporine-A (4.5 mg/kg/die), which resulted in a rapid improvement of the clinical picture, but with a reappearance of the manifestations when the dosage was lowered. The treatment was resumed and we observed that the dose of 1.5/mg/kg/die resulted morbus-static. The patient is still being treated with this drug at this dosage. The result is that the disease is under control and no side effects are present. As we consider CAD an invalidating disease it seems to us that Cy-A could be taken into consideration as an alternative to traditional treatments.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cyclosporine / administration & dosage*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Facial Dermatoses / diagnosis
  • Facial Dermatoses / drug therapy*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Patch Tests
  • Photosensitivity Disorders / diagnosis
  • Photosensitivity Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Cyclosporine