title: [Clinical efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil in the treatment of systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in the treatment of systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SoJIA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five patients with a confirmed diagnosis of SoJIA who had received initial treatment were randomly divided into control (n=15), MMF1 (n=7) and MMF2 groups (n=13). The control group received conventional treatment, the MMF1 group received MMF after 2 weeks of conventional treatment that had not led to remission, and the MMF2 group received combination therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, prednisone and MMF. Symptoms, signs, laboratory indices, and adverse events were observed after 2, 4, and 12 weeks of treatment, and follow-up was performed for 3-6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before treatment, the MMF2 group had a significantly longer disease course than the control group (P<0.05). After 2 weeks of treatment, the MMF1 and MMF2 groups had a significantly lower prednisone dose and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) than the control group (P<0.05). The MMF1 group had significantly higher body temperature than the other two groups (P<0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, the MMF1 group had a significantly lower prednisone dose and ESR than the control group (P<0.05). The MMF2 group had a significantly lower prednisone dose, body temperature (recovery to normal), white blood cell count, ESR and serum ferritin concentration than the control group (P<0.05). Body temperature was significantly lower in the MMF2 group than in the MMF1 group (P<0.05). No adverse events were observed in either the MMF1 or MMF2 groups during treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combination therapy with MMF can lead to better control of the patient's condition, more rapid relief of clinical symptoms and reduced glucocorticoid dose. The therapy with MMF is safe in children.
authors: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Beijing 100045, China. caifeng-li@yeah.net.
authors: Tong-Xin
authors: TX
authors: Han
authors: Cai-Feng
authors: CF
authors: Li
authors: Jiang
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Wei-Ying
authors: WY
authors: Kuang
authors: Yi-Fang
authors: YF
authors: Zhou
authors: Jiang-Hong
authors: JH
authors: Deng
mesh_terms: D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D011241:Prednisone