THE LONG-TERM safety of cyclosporine in the treatment of psoriasis is discussed by Grossman et al1 in this issue of the Archives. However, today, cyclosporine is used by dermatologists not only in the treatment of psoriasis but also increasingly in the treatment of atopic dermatitis2 as well as of a number of other conditions such as bullous disorders, pyoderma gangrenosum, lichen planus, dermatomyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and various forms of vasculitis. It has also received recognition as an effective diseasemoderating agent in psoriatic arthritis. The time for evaluation of long-term safety seems appropriate, especially in the setting of psoriasis, since the drug has now been used for this condition for more than 10 years. The findings could also, to a certain extent, provide a basis for deciding whether cyclosporine should be used in the treatment of other chronic dermatologic diseases.
The basis for the use of cyclosporine