Mycophenolate mofetil, Cellcept, a new immunosuppressive drug with great potential in internal medicine.
Mycophenolate mofetil is a new immunosuppressive drug, exhibiting its effect through inhibition of proliferation of T- and B-lymphocytes. Superior efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil compared to azathioprine, in combination with cyclosporine and prednisone, in the prevention of acute rejection in organ transplantation has made mycophenolate mofetil one of the standard immunosuppressive drugs after transplantation. Mycophenolate mofetil also is an interesting candidate drug for many other, mainly auto-immune mediated diseases. The use of mycophenolate mofetil in several of these diseases is discussed. The definitive place of mycophenolate mofetil will depend on the results of randomised trials currently under way.
Smak Gregoor
P J
PJ
Department of Internal Medicine, Room D-412, University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
van Gelder
T
T
Weimar
W
W
D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007388:Internal Medicine; D008297:Male; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014181:Transplantation Immunology / Q000187:drug effects*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid