Comparison of the efficacy and safety between cyclosporine A and azathioprine in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders
LI Xin-di
ZHOU An-na
ZHOU Heng
WANG Hua-bing
LIU Yun
SONG Tian
CAO Jing-bo
XU Wang-shu
ZHANG Xing-hu
Abstract：Objective:To conducted the comparison of efficacy and safety between cyclosporine A (Cy-A) and azathioprine (AZA) in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) patients.Methods:We collected 34 NMOSD patients who were either on Cy-A or AZA therapy,and reviewed their clinical information from the beginning to last follow-up (2 years).All patients were divided by two groups based on the two kinds of immunosuppressants.The efficacy of each therapy was estimated by the change of EDSS and annual relapse rate (ARR).The safety was evaluated by the species of adverse events,as well as their occurring rate after taking immunosuppressants.Results:34 NMOSD patients were enrolled.29 (85.29％) were female and 5 (14.71％) were male.17 of patients were taking Cy-A,other 17 were on AZA therapy.After patients taking Cy-A,the median EDSS reduced from 3.5 (2.0,4.0) to 1.0 (1.0,4.0) (P=0.038),and the median ARR reduced from 1.0 (1.0,2.0) to 0.3 (0.0,0.6) (P ＜ 0.000 1).After patients taking AZA,the median EDSS reduced from 4.0 (2.0,4.63) to 1.0 (1.0,5.0) (P=0.007) and median ARR reduced from 2.0 (0.9,3.0) to0.3 (0.0,0.5) (P ＜ 0.000 1).There was no significant difference in EDSS and ARR between Cy-A and AZA (P ＞ 0.05).17 of 34 patients were suffered from adverse reactions.The main adverse reactions were hepatic dysfunction and leukocytopenia.There was no significant difference in species of adverse events,as well as their occurring rate between Cy-A and AZA (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion:Both Cy-A and AZA therapy had a significant efficiency without significant discrepancy in relapse prevention therapy of NMOSD.There was no difference in safety of these two immunosuppressants.
Keywords：neuromyelitis optica spectrum disordersazathioprinecyclosporine Aexpanded disability status scalerelapse rateadverse reaction
Publication Date：2018-02-15
Online Publishing Date：2026-08-14(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 329-333 )