Introduction: Management of drug-influenced gingival enlargement is challenging, and surgery is most often indicated. However, because of a unique mechanism of action, azithromycin helps in the management of gingival enlargement caused by cyclosporine. An incidental observation of the effect of azithromycin in the cyclosporine-influenced gingival enlargement by physicians in 1995 led to series of basic investigations and clinical trials confirming this observation and providing a non-surgical treatment modality.
Case presentation: In this report, successful management of cyclosporine-influenced gingival enlargement in a 39-year-old renal transplant patient with the use of azithromycin without any surgical intervention is presented.
Conclusion: Use of azithromycin for managing cyclosporine-influenced gingival enlargement is a useful alternative or adjunct to surgical management. It is hoped that this report will raise further awareness of this non-surgical modality in patients taking cyclosporine.
Keywords: Azithromycin; cyclosporine; drug therapy; gingival enlargement; kidney transplantation.
© 2020 American Academy of Periodontology.