title: Mycophenolate mofetil for remission maintenance in the treatment of Wegener's granulomatosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for remission maintenance in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) who had been treated with daily cyclophosphamide (CYC) and glucocorticoids to induce remission.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients were treated for active WG using a standardized regimen of CYC and glucocorticoids for induction of remission and MMF for remission maintenance. Outcome was assessed using predetermined definitions based on clinical characteristics and pathologic, laboratory, and radiographic findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Remission occurred in all 14 patients (100%) at a median time of 3 months. The median time to discontinuation of glucocorticoids was 8 months. No patients died during protocol treatment and 6 patients (43%) relapsed at a median of 10 months after achieving remission. MMF was well tolerated and no patients had to be withdrawn as a result of medication toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of CYC and glucocorticoids for induction of remission and MMF for remission maintenance was well tolerated, but disease relapses were observed.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. clangford@niaid.nih.gov
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Langford
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Talar-Williams
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sneller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid