Improvement in Cyclosporine-Associated Gingival Hyperplasia with Azithromycin Therapy

To the Editor: Gingival hyperplasia is a known complication of cyclosporine therapy. It appears to be worsened by the concomitant administration of nifedipine or phenytoin. Two transplant recipients had dramatic improvements in symptomatic gingival hyperplasia after a short course of azithromycin. The first patient was a 49-year-old man with chronic glomerulonephritis who received a cadaveric renal transplant on September 16, 1987. He received immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids, azathioprine, and cyclosporine. An early episode of rejection was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone. Gingival hyperplasia was noted on June 6, 1989. In September 1992, a further increase in the gingival tissue was noted…