[Therapy of lupus nephritis with mycophenolate mofetil].
BACKGROUND
Mycophenolate mofetil is an immunosuppressive agent used in transplantation and subsequently in a variety of autoimmune conditions. It inhibits both B and T lymphocyte proliferation, and also has nonimmune effects on the kidney. The major experience in systemic lupus erythematosus has focused on proliferative lupus nephritis.


METHODS
In our study we treated 8 female patients having proliferative lupus nephritis with combination therapy of prednisone (1 mg/kg body weight) and mycophenolate mofetil (2 g per day). Complete remission was defined as a value for urinary protein excretion that was less than 0.5 g per 24 hours, with normal urinary sediment, a normal serum albumin concentration and improved or stable serum creatinine. Partial remission was defined as a daily proteinuria below 2g in the previously nephrotic patient or minimum 30% from starting values, with normal urinary sediment, serum albumin of minimum 30 g/L and stable serum creatinine.


RESULTS
Two patients had a complete remission after 7 and 2 months respectively. Five patients had a partial remission after 5.2 +/- 4.3 months of therapy. One patient did not react to therapy. There were no side effects during the course of therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Considering the fact that 7/8 patients have had nephrotic range proteinuria and that 50% of patients were refractory on standard induction therapy, the results of this study are a good indicator of value of mycophenolate mofetil in the therapy of proliferative forms of lupus nephritis.


CONCLUSIONS
Mycophenolate mofetil has satisfactory results in the treatment of proliferative forms of lupus nephritis with minimal side effects.
Celić
Dejan
D
Institut za interne bolesti, Klinika za nefrologiju i klinicku imunologiju, Klinicki centar Vojvodine, Novi Sad. cellia@NSpoint.net
Ilić
Tatjana
T
Durdević-Mirković
Tatjana
T
Mitić
Igor
I
Milić
Biljana
B
Curić
Slobodan
S
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D011241:Prednisone