title: Mycophenolate mofetil in patients with hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: Diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) -related autoimmune features has become a clinical challenge in HCV-infected patients, in whom chronic liver disease associated with severe autoimmune features may contribute to a very poor prognosis. Both antiviral and immunosuppressive therapies, either alone or in combination, seem likely to have a key role. Based on the experience of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) use in HCV patients receiving organ transplantation, this new immunosuppressive agent might represent a safe and effective therapeutic option to treat HCV-related extrahepatic features. Recent data are available for the use of MMF in HCV patients with autoimmune manifestations, mainly for autoimmune cytopenias and vasculitic features. MMF may be used as monotherapy or in association with other drugs for cases of HCV-related autoimmune diseases refractory or intolerant to common immunosuppressive treatments, allowing the reduction of the drug dosage and avoiding serious side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Autoimmune Diseases, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain. mramos@clinic.ub.es
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramos-Casals
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Font
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid