cyclosporine a Test

Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant. It’s main utility and function is preventing transplant rejection in individuals who have undergone kidney, liver and heart transplants. It dampens the body’s natural defence system and affects the ability of white blood cells in the immune system to respond to foreign tissue, and provides the transplanted organ better chances of survival. Cyclosporine also helps treat the symptoms of v rheumatoid arthritis (swelling of joints) and psoriasis (a skin disease in which red, scaly patches form on some areas of the body).

Cyclosporine Test helps measure the cyclosporine levels in the blood. This is, in turn, used to adjust the initial dose, ensuring that the cyclosporine levels stay in the acceptable range. As mentioned above, Cyclosporine is an immune suppressant drug and is mainly used to prevent rejections during organ transplant procedures. Additionally, it is also used for the treatment of diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. Cyclosporine in the system prevents the T-lymphocytes from producing interleukin-2 (IL-2), which in turn increases the T-lymphocyte count in the system. Therefore, cyclosporine uses to suppress the human immune system.

What does cyclosporine do?

The method most commonly used to perform the test is the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS)

Cyclosporine test is used to assess the concentration of cyclosporine in the blood to maintain therapeutic levels and diagnose toxic levels. It is essential to monitor levels of the drug for various reasons like:

• Absorption and metabolism of oral doses of cyclosporine can differ greatly between people and even in the same person depending on the time of dose and what food is eaten.

• There can be variation in blood levels due to the brand or preparation of cyclosporine prescribed.

• In transplant patients, it is specifically important for Graft survival to ensure that cyclosporine levels are high enough immediately following surgery to prevent rejection of the transplanted organ.

• Blood levels need to be high enough in the case of rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis to provide relief from symptoms.

• In the case of kidney transplantation, blood levels help to distinguish between kidney rejection and kidney damage due to high levels of cyclosporine.

• Cyclosporine is associated with several toxic side effects that can be avoided if blood levels are monitored and the dose adjusted if the level detected is too high.

There might be certain side effects to Cyclosporine A. Below are some of the symptoms of Cyclosporine side effects that one needs to look for –

• Indicated by stomach flush/upset, diarrhoea, vomiting/nausea, unusual body hair growth, dizziness, headache, or shaking, may occur, over a prolonged time duration.
• Unusual swelling and growth of the gums. Daily brushing of the teeth and flossing should help reduce the problem. Further, please ensure that you have regular checkups with your dentist.
• Rise in blood pressure is another thing that needs to be monitored on a regular basis.
• Serious side effects to the medication, are rarely, known to occur. However, listed below are some symptoms, if any of these symptoms occur, the patient needs to get medical intervention – 
  • Severe leg pain
  • tingling skin/ Numb
  • irregular/ Slow heartbeat
  • Muscle spasms /weakness
  • Easy bleeding/bruising
  • Signs of liver disease (like continued abdominal/stomach pain, vomits/nausea, dark urine, yellowing skin/eyes)
  • Signs of kidney problems (colour/quantity of urine)
  • Unusual tiredness
  • Mental/mood changes (such as confusion, difficulty concentrating)
  • Vision changes
  • Problems with speech
  • Clumsiness
  • Loss of coordination
  • Weakness on one side of the body
  • Chest pain
  • Seizures
  • Rash
  • Swelling/Itching (especially of the throat/ tongue/face)
  • Severe dizziness
  • Trouble breathing.

Specimen type: Serum (Blood Sample)

Specimen collection procedure: Venipuncture (Collection of blood from a vein, usually from the arm)

The results of the test can take anything from 24 to 36 Hours; depending on whether the molecular test has succeeded and we have the relevant result or if the virus needs to be grown.

Depending on the method used for the measurement of the drug along with the type of transplant and the time duration lapsed since the transplant, the desired range for Cyclosporine is determined. If the results are obtained using different samples and different methods, then the acquired results are not interchangeable. Low levels of the drug, may increase the risk of rejection of the transplant; while, if the levels are above the required range, there is a chance of toxic side effects.

There is no fasting required for this test. However, in case there are further tests that are needed to be carried out, one might need to fast for a few hours before the procedure. This would be informed to the patient by the doctor.

No Fasting Required.

No other special preparations required.

Depending on the city, the quality and the availability, the average cyclosporine price range of the test is between Rs. 1200 to Rs. 3000.

Irrespective of how you feel, the medication needs to be continued and should not be stopped without contacting the doctor. Cyclosporine is a long-term treatment and it extremely risky s the medicine is not taken as prescribed. If you stop taking medicine, there are serious risks involved with the transplanted organ getting rejected, or rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis symptoms reoccurring. This medicine cannot be stopped immediately. Hence the doctor needs to be consulted about how and when to reduce the medication, before stopping it completely.

There has been no use of Cyclosporine in association with Chemotherapy, for High Rhodamine Efflux and patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) at Diagnosis, as induction cyclosporine treatment. However, it’s not known to prolong survival.