This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gaubitz, M. Articles by Domschke, W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gaubitz, M. Articles by Domschke, W. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Mycophenolate mofetil for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus: an open pilot trial

Department of Medicine B, University of Minster, Minster, Germany; gaubitz{at}uni-muenster.de

Annette Schorat

Heiko Schottel

Department of Medicine B, University of Minster, Minster, Germany

Peter Kern

University of Erlangen-Nirnberg, Erlangen, Germany

Wolfram Domschke

Department of Medicine B, University of Minster, Minster, Germany

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of mycophenolate mofetil in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who were inadequately controlled with corticosteroids, antimalarials, and other immunosuppresive agents.

Methods: Ten patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were treated with 1500-2000 mg mycophenolae mofetil (MMF) daily for a median observation time of 11.2 ± 2.4 (8-16) months in an open clinical trial. The effectiveness and safety of treatment were analyzed using an established disease activity score, clinical status, and laboratory parameters.

Results: All patients improved under treatment with no or only minor side effects. The disease activity score (SLAM) decreased statistically significantly from a median of 15.6 ± 5.5 to 9.9 ± 4.1 after three months (P < 0.01) and to 8.0 ± 3.3 after six months (P < 0.01). Hematologic parameters did not change significantly whereas a reduction of inflammatory markers was observed. Four patients with SLE-nephritis already treated with cyclophosphamide pulse therapy continuously showed a slight improvement of renal function. Prednisolone dosages could be reduced significantly from a median level of 10.0+ 5.1 mg/d before treatment to 4.6 ±3.5 mg/d after six months (P < 0.01).

Conclusion: Mycophenolate mofetil is a promising option in immunosuppressive treatment of patients with moderate and severe systemic lupus erythematosus who did not show a satisfactory response to other immunosuppressives.

Key Words: systemic lupus erythematosus • mycophenolate mofetil • treatment • immunosuppression

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Vento, A. Perez Aytes, A. Ledo, V. Boso, and J. C. Carey Mycophenolate Mofetil During Pregnancy: Some Words of Caution Pediatrics, July 1, 2008; 122(1): 184 - 185. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Wang, W. Hu, H. Xie, H. Zhang, H. Chen, C. Zeng, Z. Liu, and L. Li Induction therapies for class IV lupus nephritis with non-inflammatory necrotizing vasculopathy: mycophenolate mofetil or intravenous cyclophosphamide Lupus, September 1, 2007; 16(9): 707 - 712. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Walsh, M. James, D. Jayne, M. Tonelli, B. J. Manns, and B. R. Hemmelgarn Mycophenolate Mofetil for Induction Therapy of Lupus Nephritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Clin. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., September 1, 2007; 2(5): 968 - 975. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Falcini and F. Nacci Review: Systemic lupus erythematosus in the young: the importance of a transition clinic Lupus, August 1, 2007; 16(8): 613 - 617. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. Zhu, N. Chen, Y. Lin, H. Ren, W. Zhang, W. Wang, X. Pan, and H. Yu Mycophenolate mofetil in induction and maintenance therapy of severe lupus nephritis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Nephrol. Dial. Transplant., July 1, 2007; 22(7): 1933 - 1942. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A Doria, L Iaccarino, S Arienti, M E Rampudda, M G Canova, R Rondinone, and S Todesco Mycophenolate mofetil and systemic lupus erythematosus Lupus, November 1, 2006; 15(11_suppl): 44 - 54. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M A Dooley Mycophenylate mofetil: what role in the treatment of lupus? Lupus, March 1, 2006; 15(3): 179 - 182. [Abstract] [PDF]

				W. D Cahoon Jr and D. R Kockler Mycophenolate Mofetil Treatment of Myasthenia Gravis Ann. Pharmacother., February 1, 2006; 40(2): 295 - 298. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. M. Ginzler, M. A. Dooley, C. Aranow, M. Y. Kim, J. Buyon, J. T. Merrill, M. Petri, G. S. Gilkeson, D. J. Wallace, M. H. Weisman, et al. Mycophenolate Mofetil or Intravenous Cyclophosphamide for Lupus Nephritis. N. Engl. J. Med., November 24, 2005; 353(21): 2219 - 2228. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C N Pisoni, Y Karim, and M J Cuadrado Mycophenolate mofetil and systemic lupus erythematosus: an overview Lupus, March 1, 2005; 14(3_suppl): s9 - s11. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M Hartmann and A Enk Mycophenolate mofetil and skin diseases Lupus, March 1, 2005; 14(3_suppl): s58 - s63. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. Sayarlioglu, R. Erkoc, E. Dogan, M. Sayarlioglu, and C. Topal Mycophenolate mofetil use in hepatitis B associated-membranous and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis induces viral replication Ann. Pharmacother., March 1, 2005; 39(3): 573 - 573. [Full Text] [PDF]

				E M Ginzler and C Aranow Mycophenolate mofetil in lupus nephritis Lupus, January 1, 2005; 14(1): 59 - 64. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F Falcini Vascular and connective tissue diseases in the paediatric world Lupus, February 1, 2004; 13(2): 77 - 84. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. Ding, M. Zhao, W. Zou, Y. Liu, and H. Wang Mycophenolate mofetil combined with prednisone for diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis: a histopathological study Lupus, February 1, 2004; 13(2): 113 - 118. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M Bijl, G Horst, H Bootsma, P C Limburg, and C G M Kallenberg Mycophenolate mofetil prevents a clinical relapse in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus at risk Ann Rheum Dis, June 1, 2003; 62(6): 534 - 539. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Zatz, I. L. Noronha, and C. K. Fujihara Experimental and clinical rationale for use of MMF in nontransplant progressive nephropathies Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, December 1, 2002; 283(6): F1167 - F1175. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. M. Hanjani and C. H. Nousari Mycophenolate Mofetil for the Treatment of Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus With Smoldering Systemic Involvement Arch Dermatol, December 1, 2002; 138(12): 1616 - 1618. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Y. Karim, P. Alba, M.-J. Cuadrado, I. C. Abbs, D. P. D'Cruz, M. A. Khamashta, and G. R. V. Hughes Mycophenolate mofetil for systemic lupus erythematosus refractory to other immunosuppressive agents Rheumatology, August 1, 2002; 41(8): 876 - 882. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Nieto, E. Escudero, E. Navarro, M. Yanez-Mo, A. Martin, G. Perez de Lema, F. Sanchez-Madrid, and F. Mampaso Effects of Mycophenolate Mofetil in Mercury-Induced Autoimmune Nephritis J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., April 1, 2002; 13(4): 937 - 945. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D Adu, J Cross, and D R. Jayne Treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus with mycophenolate mofetil Lupus, March 1, 2001; 10(3): 203 - 208. [Abstract] [PDF]

				V. Chaudhry, D. R. Cornblath, J. W. Griffin, R. O'Brien, and D. B. Drachman Mycophenolate mofetil: A safe and promising immunosuppressant in neuromuscular diseases Neurology, January 9, 2001; 56(1): 94 - 96. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J Cross and D Jayne Mycophenolate mofetil in lupus nephritis Lupus, November 1, 2000; 9(9): 647 - 650. [PDF]