title: Combined prednisone and mycophenolate mofetil treatment for retroperitoneal fibrosis: a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Small case series suggest that a combination of mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone may be an effective treatment for patients with retroperitoneal fibrosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the outcomes of adults with retroperitoneal fibrosis who received a combination of prednisone and mycophenolate mofetil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective case series of patients followed between 1 April 2005 and 1 July 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single tertiary care facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  28 patients with retroperitoneal fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prednisone, 40 mg/d, tapered over 6 months, and mycophenolate mofetil, 1000 mg twice daily, for a mean of 24.3 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical course, laboratory assessment, and measurement of periaortic mass. Mean follow-up was 1012 days, and no patients were lost to follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Systemic symptoms resolved in all patients; 89% had a 25% or greater reduction in periaortic mass. Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum creatinine level and decreased hemoglobin level normalized in all patients. Disease recurred in 2 of 28 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was a small case series.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined prednisone and mycophenolate mofetil therapy is a potentially effective treatment for retroperitoneal fibrosis that warrants evaluation in randomized trials.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  None.
authors.affiliation: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. PScheel1@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Scheel
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Feeley
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sozio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012185:Retroperitoneal Fibrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D011241:Prednisone