Abstract
Cyclosporin A(CsA) is now widely used to treat organ transplant recipients. But CsA has various short-and long-term side effects. Especially, gingival hyperplasia is not easy to resolve since its nature is still unknown. This study discusses the pathogenesis of CsA-induced gingival hyperplasia on the basis of data obtained from light and electron microscopic studies of biopsis from patients on CsA treatment after kidney transplantation. Light microscopically, the multilayered squamous epithelium showed an irregular surface of parakeratosis and deep invaginations in the subepithelial tissue. At lamina propria, we observed bundles of irregularly arranged collagen fiber, some fibroblasts, numerous capillary vessels and a large diffuse infiltration of plasma cells. Ultrastructurally, many fibroblasts, collagen fibers, collagen fibrils were present in lamina propria. On the basis of the data collected, we propose that the morphological features of the dimensional increase in gingival tissue associated with CsA treatment in kidney transplant patients may be considered proliferative fibroblasts, collagen fibers, collagen fibrils in lamina propria.