Epiglottic Abscess during Cyclosporine Therapy for Prurigo

Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant that suppresses cell-mediated immunity; it is used not only in organ transplantation to prevent rejection, but also outside of transplantation such as for nephrotic syndrome and severe inflammatory diseases. Infection induced by immunosuppressants is well known, and the incidence of infection related to immunosuppressants is rising with their increasing use for various diseases. We describe a patient with an epiglottic abscess who had been taking cyclosporine 4mg/kg/day for prurigo. Because antibiotics and steroid therapy were not usable, we performed surgical drainage of the epiglottic abscess under infrapsychic nasotrachial intubation.