title: Effects of mycophenolate mofetil combined with corticosteroids for induction therapy of microscopic polyangiitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We prospectively compared the effects of oral mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVC) combined with corticosteroids for induction therapy of microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) with renal involvement over a follow-up period of 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  41 MPA patients were randomly assigned to either the open-label MMF group or the IVC group. Patients in the MMF group (n = 19) received oral MMF 1.0 g/day (1.5 g/day for patients with a body weight >70 kg) and patients in the IVC group (n = 22) received IVC in monthly pulses of 1.0 g per pulse (0.8 g per pulse for patients with a body weight <50 kg). Both groups received intravenous methylprednisolone 360-500 mg/day for 3 days, followed by oral prednisone 0.6-0.8 mg/kg/day and gradual tapering.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) level between the IVC and MMF groups at baseline. At 6 months, the eGFR level increased significantly in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the two. Three patients in the IVC group and 1 in the MMF group received maintenance dialysis within 6 months (p = 0.36). The remission rate was 63.6% in the IVC group and 78.9% in the MMF group (p = 0.23).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMF is effective for inducing remission in Chinese MPA patients and may represent an alternative therapy to monthly impulses of IVC.
authors.affiliation: Kidney Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Guangyi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiayu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Xuelin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Suya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Huiping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jianghua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D055953:Microscopic Polyangiitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid