Effects of Cyclosporine in Spontaneous, Posterior Uveitis

Cyclosporin A (CsA) was administered to chicks of the Smyth delayed-amelanotic (SDA) line from day of hatch to 4, 8 or 12 weeks of age. Animals were evaluated at 8, 12, 16 or 20 weeks with regard to major features of the SDA-line disorder, including extent of feather and choroidal amelanosis, choroidal inflammation, and histopathology of the retinal pigment epithelium and outer retina. A suppression and delay in the onset of both amelanosis and ocular histopathology occurred during CsA administration. However, a rebound enhancement of symptoms occurred 4-8 weeks after withdrawal of CsA that was closely associated with the duration of CsA treatment. These results indicate that CSA may yield therapeutic effects during the period of treatment, but its withdrawal may lead to more severe symptoms that would have occurred without treatment.