Safety of Cyclophosphamide Therapy in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases

Cyclophosphamide (CYC) is one of the most potent antineoplastic and immunosuppressant agents. It is used as a drug of choice in many organ-threatening manifestations of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) such as lupus nephritis, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis,...

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Main Authors: Ramaswamy Subramanian, Himanshu Pathak, Vinod Ravindran
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2019-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Rheumatology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.indianjrheumatol.com/article.asp?issn=0973-3698;year=2019;volume=14;issue=2;spage=127;epage=135;aulast=Subramanian
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author Ramaswamy Subramanian
Himanshu Pathak
Vinod Ravindran
author_facet Ramaswamy Subramanian
Himanshu Pathak
Vinod Ravindran
author_sort Ramaswamy Subramanian
collection DOAJ
description Cyclophosphamide (CYC) is one of the most potent antineoplastic and immunosuppressant agents. It is used as a drug of choice in many organ-threatening manifestations of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) such as lupus nephritis, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, classical polyarteritis nodosa, and myositis. It is also used in connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease and Behcet's disease. However, its use may be limited by the toxicities including its adverse effects on gonads in the childbearing age group, severe infections, hemorrhagic cystitis, and malignancies associated with prolonged usage. As a result, mycophenolate, azathioprine, and rituximab have gained popularity over CYC as an induction and maintenance agent in many AIRDs. However, in the event of failure of aforementioned agents in aggressive rheumatic diseases or in a resource-limited setting, the usage of CYC continues to be a useful therapeutic strategy. In this review, we have appraised the adverse effects of CYC therapy in AIRDs which would help clinicians in taking informed decisions regarding CYC usage.
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spelling doaj-art-6a653e2a14f3492db34be30c8dc4e1472025-01-03T01:45:59ZengSAGE PublishingIndian Journal of Rheumatology0973-36980973-37012019-01-0114212713510.4103/injr.injr_28_19Safety of Cyclophosphamide Therapy in Autoimmune Rheumatic DiseasesRamaswamy SubramanianHimanshu PathakVinod RavindranCyclophosphamide (CYC) is one of the most potent antineoplastic and immunosuppressant agents. It is used as a drug of choice in many organ-threatening manifestations of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) such as lupus nephritis, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, classical polyarteritis nodosa, and myositis. It is also used in connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease and Behcet's disease. However, its use may be limited by the toxicities including its adverse effects on gonads in the childbearing age group, severe infections, hemorrhagic cystitis, and malignancies associated with prolonged usage. As a result, mycophenolate, azathioprine, and rituximab have gained popularity over CYC as an induction and maintenance agent in many AIRDs. However, in the event of failure of aforementioned agents in aggressive rheumatic diseases or in a resource-limited setting, the usage of CYC continues to be a useful therapeutic strategy. In this review, we have appraised the adverse effects of CYC therapy in AIRDs which would help clinicians in taking informed decisions regarding CYC usage.http://www.indianjrheumatol.com/article.asp?issn=0973-3698;year=2019;volume=14;issue=2;spage=127;epage=135;aulast=SubramanianCyclophosphamidegonadal failurehemorrhagic cystitisimmunosuppressantslupus nephritis
spellingShingle Ramaswamy Subramanian
Himanshu Pathak
Vinod Ravindran
Safety of Cyclophosphamide Therapy in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases
Indian Journal of Rheumatology
Cyclophosphamide
gonadal failure
hemorrhagic cystitis
immunosuppressants
lupus nephritis
title Safety of Cyclophosphamide Therapy in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases
title_full Safety of Cyclophosphamide Therapy in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases
title_fullStr Safety of Cyclophosphamide Therapy in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases
title_full_unstemmed Safety of Cyclophosphamide Therapy in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases
title_short Safety of Cyclophosphamide Therapy in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases
title_sort safety of cyclophosphamide therapy in autoimmune rheumatic diseases
topic Cyclophosphamide
gonadal failure
hemorrhagic cystitis
immunosuppressants
lupus nephritis
url http://www.indianjrheumatol.com/article.asp?issn=0973-3698;year=2019;volume=14;issue=2;spage=127;epage=135;aulast=Subramanian
work_keys_str_mv AT ramaswamysubramanian safetyofcyclophosphamidetherapyinautoimmunerheumaticdiseases
AT himanshupathak safetyofcyclophosphamidetherapyinautoimmunerheumaticdiseases
AT vinodravindran safetyofcyclophosphamidetherapyinautoimmunerheumaticdiseases