title: Mizoribine as an effective combined maintenance therapy with prednisolone in child-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is one of the major collagen diseases in childhood. However, the pathogenesis of this disease still remains unknown. The disease is known as a chronic inflammatory disease. Since oral and intravenous corticosteroid therapy has been introduced into the treatment of SLE, the prognosis of patients has improved significantly. However, it has now become clear that there are limitations in the effectiveness, as well as adverse reactions when corticosteroids therapy is administered for a long-term period. Therefore, we have been attempting to improve the maintenance therapy of child-onset SLE.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have proposed and tested a new type of combination therapy using prednisolone (PSL) and mizoribine (MZR) in pediatric patients with SLE for maintenance therapy after the induction of remission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that this combination therapy is more effective than the previous regimen. In addition, no significant side-effects were observed in our study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This combination therapy is still not perfect. Efforts should be continued to establish an optimal therapy regimen for child-onset SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics,Yokohama City University Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan. yaihara1@urahp.yokoyama-cu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yukoh
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aihara
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyamae
authors.forename: Shu-Ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Shigenori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imagawa
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibe
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mitsuda
authors.forename: Shumpei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yokota
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D012263:Ribonucleosides / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D012263:Ribonucleosides; C010052:mizoribine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone