AIM: To evaluate long-term prognosis following cyclosporine treatment by examining the rate of surgery avoidance among cyclosporine responders.METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinical records for 29 patients diagnosed with severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis in our hospital from August 1997 to August 2008 and treated with cyclosporine by continuous intravenous infusion.All patients were treated with intravenous corticosteroids for more than 5 d prior to cyclosporine therapy.Administration was continued for up to 21 d under serum monitoring to maintain cyclosporine levels between 400 and 600 ng/mL.Clinical activity was assessed before and after cyclosporine therapy using the clinical activity index score,with a reduction of ≥ 5 considered to indicate a response.Among responders,we defined cases not requiring surgery for more than 5 years as exhibiting long-term efficacy of cyclosporine.Factors considered to be possibly predictive of long-term efficacy of cyclosporine were sex,age,disease duration,clinical activity index score,C-reactive protein level,hemoglobin level,disease extent,endoscopic findings,and clinical course.RESULTS: Cyclosporine was not discontinued due to side effects in any patient.Nineteen(65.5%) of 29 patients were considered responders.A statistically significant(P = 0.004) inverseas sociation wa s observed between an endoscopic finding of “mucosal bleeding” and responsive cases.Fifteen(9 males,6 females) of these 19 patients were followed for 5 years or more,of whom 9(60%) exhibited long-termefficacy of cyclosporine.Of the 10 non-responders,9(90%) underwent surgery within 6 mo of cyclosporine therapy.None of the following factors had a significant impact on the long-term efficacy of cyclosporine: sex,age,duration of disease,clinical activity index score,C-reactive protein level,hemoglobin level,extent of disease,endoscopic findings,or clinical course.In contrast,a significant association was observed for maintenance therapy with azathioprine after cyclosporine therapy(P = 0.0014).CONCLUSION: Maintenance therapy with azathioprine might improve the long-term efficacy of continuously infused cyclosporine for severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis patients. AIM: To evaluate long-term prognosis following cyclosporine treatment by examining the rate of surgery avoidance among cyclosporine responders. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinical records for 29 patients diagnosed with severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis in our hospital from August 1997 to August 2008 and treated with cyclosporine by continuous intravenous infusion. All patients were treated with intravenous corticosteroids for more than 5 d prior to cyclosporine therapy. Administration was continued for up to 21 d under serum monitoring to maintain cyclosporine levels between 400 and 600 ng / mL. Clinical activity was assessed before and after cyclosporine therapy using the clinical activity index score, with a reduction of> 5 considered to indicate a response. Am responders, we defined cases not requiring surgery for more than 5 years as exhibiting long-term efficacy of cyclosporine. considered to be prob predictive of long-term efficacy of cyclosporine wer e sex, age, disease duration, clinical activity index score, C-reactive protein level, hemoglobin level, disease extent, endoscopic findings, and clinical course. RESULTS: Cyclosporine was not discontinued due to side effects in any patient. ) of 29 patients were considered responders. A statistically significant (P = 0.004) of overseas sociations wa s observed between an endoscopic finding of “mucosal bleeding” and responsive cases. Fifteen (9 males, 6 females) of these 19 patients were followed Of the 10 non-responders, 9 (90%) underwent surgery within 6 mo of cyclosporine therapy. One of the following factors had a significant impact on the long-term efficacy of cyclosporine: sex, age, duration of disease, clinical activity index score, C-reactive protein level, hemoglobin level, extent of disease, endoscopic findings, or clinical course. for maintenance therapy with azathioprine after cyclosporine therapy (P = 0.0014) .CONCLUSION: Maintenance therapy with azathioprine might improve the long-term efficacy of continuously infused cyclosporine for severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis patients.