title: Mycophenolate mofetil monotherapy in the management of paediatric uveitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate effectiveness and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) monotherapy in paediatric autoimmune uveitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed medical records of patients, 18 years of age or younger, with autoimmune uveitis treated with MMF at our practice from 2005 to 2009. The dose and duration of MMF therapy, inflammation status, visual acuity, previous immunomodulatory therapies, and adverse effects were recorded. In addition, the following subgroups were defined: (1) Durable Disease Control: patients whose uveitis remained quiescent for at least 2 years on MMF monotherapy, with no more than two flare-ups successfully treated with an increase in MMF dosage and/or a short course (<1 month) of corticosteroids; (2) Short-term Inflammation Control: patients whose uveitis remained quiescent for less than 2 years, with no more than one flare-up successfully treated with an increase in MMF dosage and/or a short course of corticosteroids, or who initially achieved inflammation control but discontinued MMF because of significant adverse effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 38 out of 52 patients (73.1%) obtained inflammation control following 2 months of MMF monotherapy, achieving ≤ 0.5+ grading in anterior chamber cell/flare and vitreous haze. In the cross-sectional analysis, 25 patients (48.1%) met the criteria for Durable Disease Control, and 13 others (25.0%) qualified for Short-term Inflammation Control. Visual acuity remained stable or improved in 94.2% of the study population. Six patients (11.5%) discontinued MMF because of significant adverse effects, the most common of which was gastrointestinal disturbances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMF monotherapy appears to be an effective and safe treatment in paediatric autoimmune uveitis.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution, Cambridge, MA, USA.
authors.forename: P Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Giuliari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaikh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thakuria
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Makhoul
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014605:Uveitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid