Pulse cyclophosphamide in the treatment of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE
The effect of pulse cyclophosphamide treatment was retrospectively assessed in 25 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with central nervous system involvement. All patients who tested positive for anti-phospholipid antibodies and/or lupus anticoagulant were excluded.


RESULTS
Low-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide pulses (500 mg) were administered weekly in all patients. Twenty-four out of 25 patients attained a good response (after a mean of 11 days). Cyclophosphamide was well tolerated in all patients with only minor side effects. None of the patients experienced ovarian failure, cystitis or herpes zoster.


CONCLUSIONS
Weekly low-dose cyclophosphamide pulses appear to be safe and effective for the management of neuropsychiatric manifestations in SLE patients without antiphospholipid antibodies.
Ramos
P C
PC
Lupus Arthritis Research Unit, Rayne Institute, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, U.K.
Mendez
M J
MJ
Ames
P R
PR
Khamashta
M A
MA
Hughes
G R
GR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide