title: Enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium in psoriasis vulgaris: an open pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycophenolate mofetil is a well-known immunosuppressive agent in transplantation medicine. The efficacy of enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) was confirmed in other inflammatory skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis and SCLE.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy and the tolerability/short-term safety of EC-MPS in patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  An open-label pilot study in which 20 patients with a PASI >10 received EC-MPS 720 mg twice daily for 6 weeks followed by 360 mg twice daily for another 6 weeks. Patients who completed 12 weeks of treatment were followed-up for an additional 12 weeks. Treatment outcomes were assessed with PASI50% and PASI75%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen men and two women (mean age 46 years) entered the study. Sixty-five percent (13/20) finished the treatment period. By week 6, no patient achieved PASI 75% and 8/20 patients achieved a PASI 50%. Compared to week 6, 4/13 showed a deterioration of their psoriasis at week 12. Twenty-five percent (2/8) achieved a PASI 75% in week 24. The most-reported adverse events were itching (30%), diarrhea (10%), and a reversible elevation of the triglycerides level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EC-MPS does not seem effective as monotherapy for moderate to severe psoriasis, but might be used at a dosage of 1440 mg daily in well-selected patients with treatment-resistant psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology & Venereology, Erasmus MC , Rotterdam , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Shiva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fallah Arani
authors.forename: Rick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Waalboer Spuij
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nijsten
authors.forename: H A Martino
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013608:Tablets, Enteric-Coated; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013608:Tablets, Enteric-Coated; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid