cyclosporine

:  a cyclosporin C₆₂H₁₁₁N₁₁O₁₂ that is an immunosuppressive cyclic polypeptide obtained as a metabolite from a fungus (Beauveria nivea synonym Tolypocladium inflatum) and is used especially to prevent rejection of transplanted organs and in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis The indications for treatment with cyclosporine are rapidly expanding. Once used only for the prevention of organ transplant rejection, cyclosporine is now approved for psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis and is being prescribed for conditions ranging from autoimmune diseases to atopic dermatitis.—Mark Lebwohl, Scientitic American Medicine Bulletin, February 2000 Recently, cyclosporine has come on the market as an especially useful immunosuppressive agent, since it offers essentially equal protection from rejection of the transplant, while causing less impairment of immunological defenses against bacteria and viruses.—James D. Hardy, The World of Surgery, 1986 Cyclosporin, an antirejection drug that helps make organ transplants feasible, comes from a Norwegian fungus.—Jon R. Luoma, Audubon, March 1996 Prolonged treatment with glucocorticoids can have undesirable side effects (including diabetes mellitus), while cyclosporine A can cause diarrhea and vomiting (and diminished bank accounts for owners of large dogs).—Dog Watch, July 2007 ◆Trademarks for cyclosporine include Neoral, Restasis, and Sandimmune.