title: An analysis of the dermatological uses of mycophenolate mofetil in a tertiary hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is increasingly being used by dermatologists to treat various skin conditions, but limited evidence exists regarding its efficacy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate safety and efficacy of MMF in the treatment of dermatological conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review of all the dermatology patients treated with MMF between October 1999 and July 2008 at a university-based teaching hospital in Australia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-nine patients included 43 females (62%) and 26 males. Nineteen patients (27%) achieved complete remission (CR) and 14 (20%) had no response to therapy. The average duration of treatment was 18.4 months and the mean daily dose was 2 g. Thirty-two patients (47%) experienced side effects, though most were mild. Factors influencing response to MMF were studied, and older age (p=0.005), diagnosis (p=0.008) and duration of treatment (p=0.02) were found significant. In a multivariate analysis, only the diagnosis remained statistically significant. There was a differential response to MMF between the various dermatological disorders studied. Complete response was achieved in 56%, 53% and 46% of the patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), immunobullous disorders and neutrophilic dermatoses, respectively, while none of the patients with psoriasis achieved CR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that MMF is more effective in AD and immunobullous disorders than in psoriasis and pyoderma gangrenosum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Westmead Hospital , Westmead, Sydney , Australia.
authors.forename: Leni
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hamann
authors.forename: Keng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Peñas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; 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; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid
keywords: Atopic dermatitis; immunobullous disorders; mycophenolate mofetil; neutrophilic dermatoses; psoriasis