The efficacy and safety of Cyclosporine A as rescue therapy for acute severe ulcerative colitis in long-term follow-up.

All UC patients treated with CyA in Tampere University Hospital between 2009 and 2018 were reviewed from patient records and analyzed. Amelioration of UC was defined as clinical response for rescue therapy with no need for colectomy or third-line rescue therapy at the same hospitalization as index flare. Relapse was defined as requiring further Cs treatment, re-hospitalization, biologicals, small molecules, or colectomy later in follow-up. Patients were followed-up from the date of index flare until colectomy, death, or the end of observation period. Adverse events related to treatment were assessed throughout the duration of treatment. Surgical complications were defined by using Clavien-Dindo classification (grade III-V classified as severe complications). The surgical complications in Cyclosporine-treated patients were compared to all patients operated for treatment refractor UC in Tampere University Hospital within the same follow-up period.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients admitted to hospital for acute flare of UC and treated with CyA rescue therapy.
• Age 16 or over

Exclusion Criteria:

-

Patients treated in Tampere University Hospital with Cyclosporine rescue therapy for acute flare of UC.