title: [Mycophenolate mofetil in lupus nephritis refractory to intravenous cyclophosphamide].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in lupus nephritis (LN) patients with prior failure to intravenous cyclophosphamide over a 12-month follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven patients with LN were included. MMF doses ranged from 1.5-2 grams per day. In all patients, 24-h urinary protein excretion, creatinine clearance, and serum creatinine were evaluated. Treatment-related adverse effects were recorded over the 12-month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Basal proteinuria decreased from 1.63 g/L (95% CI: 0.78-2.5) to 0.93 (95% CI: 0.1-1.62) g/L at the end of the follow-up period (p = 0.04). Creatinine clearance showed a tendency to improve but no statistically significant differences were found, 69.2 (95% CI 51.4- 87.4) vs. 79.29 (IC 95% 49.2-109.3) ml/min, respectively; p = 0.90). No significant differences were found in the remaining variables. Patients without response to MMF had a higher chronicity index than those with good or average response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMF doses of 1.5-2 grams per day are a good alternative in LN patients without response to intravenous cyclophosphamide and a low chronicity index. No severe adverse effects were found.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación Clínica. Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad IMSS. León Guanajuato. México.
authors.forename: Leonel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Daza
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Ulises
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Velasco
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernández