[Mycophenolate mofetil--a new therapeutic agent for chronic autoimmune diseases].
BACKGROUND
Mycophenolate mofetil is an immunosuppressive agent frequently used in regimens to prevent allograft rejection. In this review we focus on mycophenolate mofetil as a potential drug for chronic autoimmune diseases.


METHODS
We searched PubMed for relevant literature and present two case histories.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with mycophenolate mofetil is best documented in lupus nephritis. In this context, some studies have documented an effect equal to cyclophosphamide for induction treatment, and equal to azathioprine, and better than cyclophosphamide for remission maintenance. Mycophenolate mofetil is today an alternative, although experimental, agent for the treatment of certain autoimmune diseases when conventional drugs have failed or are not tolerated; in the future it may become more widely used for immunosuppression. To establish the role for mycophenolate mofetil, more prospective controlled multicentre studies are warranted.
Seksjon for klinisk immunologi. hare@sir.no
Erna
E
Harboe
Lasse
L
Gøransson
Klaus
K
Wildhagen
Roald
R
Omdal
D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000188:drug therapy
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid