Effect of mycophenolate mofetil (Cell Cept) in the treatment of immune glomerulopathies.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of mycophenolate mofetil (Cell Cept) in treating patients with various types of chronic glomerulonephritis and other immune nephropathies.


METHODS
Between 2000 and 2003 we treated 35 patients (18 women, 17 men) with Cell Cept (La Roche). In 32 patients the diagnosis was confirmed by kidney biopsy (immunofluorescence, light and electron microscopy).


RESULTS
Treatment with Cell Cept was very successful in 22 of the patients in the study (62.86%). Proteinuria was significantly reduced and firmly maintained well below 0.5 g/l; serum protein levels were elevated to normal values, the edemas disappeared. In 12 patients the drug had a good effect: there was a significant reduction of proteins in the urea within 1.2 - 2.0 g/l, an increase of total protein and albumins in plasma but after three months of treatment. The therapy was with no effect only in one patient with primary amyloidosis of kidneys.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with mycophenolate mofetil (Cell Cept) is an alternative modality for the management of immune glomerulopathies resistant to conventional and pulse pathogenetic therapeutic regimens. It can be a treatment of first choice.
Dimitrakov
Dimitar J
DJ
II-nd Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University - Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Nikolov
Dimitar G
DG
Dimitrakov
Jordan D
JD
Despotov
Toma B
TB
Kumchev
Emil P
EP
Tzvetkova
Zdravka S
ZS
Tilkian
Edward E
EE
Pandeva
Stefka M
SM
Chatalbasheva
Dora L
DL
Tzekov
Valeri D
VD
Anavi
Beniamin L
BL
D000328:Adult; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011239:Prednisolone; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid