title: Improvement in 3-month patient-reported gastrointestinal symptoms after conversion from mycophenolate mofetil to enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium in renal transplant patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The benefit of conversion from mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) to enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) in terms of gastrointestinal symptom burden has been evaluated previously using patient-reported outcomes. However, data are lacking concerning the sustained effect of conversion over time, and the potential impact of concomitant calcineurin inhibitor.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this 3-month, prospective, multicenter, longitudinal, open-label trial, MMF-treated renal transplant patients with gastrointestinal symptoms receiving cyclosporine or tacrolimus were converted to equimolar doses of EC-MPS. Change in gastrointestinal symptom burden was evaluated using a validated Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant improvement in GSRS score was observed from baseline (2.61, 95% CI 2.54-2.68) to month 1 (1.87, 95% CI 1.81-1.93) after conversion to EC-MPS and was sustained to month 3 (1.81, 95% CI 1.74-188; both P<0.0001 versus baseline). The mean change in overall GSRS score from baseline to month 1 was -0.74 overall (cyclosporine: -0.73 and tacrolimus: -0.74; all P<0.0001 versus baseline), with a slight further improvement (-0.79) at month 3 (cyclosporine: -0.82 and tacrolimus: -0.78; all P<0.0001 versus baseline). A significant improvement in GSRS subscale scores was also observed in the total population regardless of calcineurin inhibitor at month 1, sustained to month 3 (all P<0.0001 versus baseline). The improvement in GSRS score postconversion was similar in African-American and non-African-American patients, and in diabetic and nondiabetic patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This exploratory study in 728 patients demonstrates that following conversion from MMF to EC-MPS, regardless of concomitant calcineurin inhibitor, GSRS is improved and sustained over 3 months.
authors: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA. bolinp@ecu.edu
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Bolin
authors: Bekir
authors: B
authors: Tanriover
authors: Gazi B
authors: GB
authors: Zibari
authors: Melissa L
authors: ML
authors: Lynn
authors: John D
authors: JD
authors: Pirsch
authors: Laurence
authors: L
authors: Chan
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Cooper
authors: Anthony J
authors: AJ
authors: Langone
authors: Stephen J
authors: SJ
authors: Tomlanovich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009173:Mycophenolic Acid