Mycophenolate mofetil: what is its place in the treatment of autoimmune rheumatic diseases?
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.
Iaccarino
Luca
L
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy.
Rampudda
Mariaelisa
M
Canova
Mariagrazia
M
Della Libera
Sara
S
Sarzi-Puttinic
Piercarlo
P
Doria
Andrea
A
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
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid