title: Mycophenolate mofetil: what is its place in the treatment of autoimmune rheumatic diseases?
abstract: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a new immunosuppressant recently introduced in the treatment of autoimmune conditions. The greatest experience with the use of MMF has been achieved in the treatment of proliferative lupus glomerulonephritis. However, MMF has also been used to control SLE extra-renal manifestations as well as other autoimmune rheumatic diseases such as idiopathic inflammatory arthropathies, inflammatory myopathies, systemic sclerosis, and systemic vasculitis. MMF seems to be well tolerated and effective and could be considered a useful alternative to standard immunosuppressants for the treatment of autoimmune rheumatic disorders. However, further studies are needed in order to determine its real place in the treatment of these conditions. In this paper, the use of MMF in different autoimmune rheumatic diseases is reviewed and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iaccarino
authors.forename: Mariaelisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rampudda
authors.forename: Mariagrazia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Canova
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Della Libera
authors.forename: Piercarlo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sarzi-Puttinic
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doria
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid