Hypertension and Cyclosporine

Excerpt

To the editor: Mild and reversible elevation of blood pressure is a common manifestation of cyclosporine toxicity in organ graft recipients (1) and patients with ocular inflammatory diseases of autoimmune origin (2). We noted severe and irreversible hypertension in a patient receiving this drug for treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy.

A 39-year-old white woman with Graves' disease had severe hyperthyroidism and eye symptoms. Her blood pressure was 160/85 mm Hg on admission. Treatment was begun with methimazole, 50 mg/d; plasma exchange; and cyclosporine, 10 mg/kg body weight d. The dosage of cyclosporine was tapered over 1 month to a maintenance dosage