title: Mycophenolate mofetil in the treatment of multiple sclerosis: a preliminary report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an affordable and tolerable drug reported to be beneficial in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine efficacy of MMF as first line disease modifying drug (DMD) in 40 patients with MS seen in our demyelinating disease registry.
  
  
  METHODS
  The annualized relapse rate (ARR) for 1 year prior to starting MMF therapy and 1 year post treatment was calculated. Pre- and post-treatment expanded disability status scores (EDSS), age at onset of treatment, disease duration, and type of MS were recorded. Wilcoxon rank sum test was used for comparison of ARRs and EDSS before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty patients included 27 females and 13 males. Mean duration of MMF therapy was 24 months (range 14-33 months). Pre-treatment mean ARR of 0.95 was significantly different from post treatment mean ARR of 0.11 (P=0.0001). Pre-treatment mean EDSS 3.80 (inter quartile range [IQR] 3.5-4.5) was significantly different from post-treatment mean EDSS 2.66 (IQR 1.5-3.0, P=0.0001). No adverse effects were reported that required stopping of medication. Five patients discontinued treatment 6-11 months after starting therapy, two of whom relapsed subsequently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our preliminary results support the use of MMF, a cheap and well-tolerated drug, as first line disease modifying drug in MS. Long-term results in a larger patient cohort is required for validating our preliminary conclusions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, KS Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte University, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Lekha
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pandit
authors.forename: Sharik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: Chaithra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malli
authors.forename: Anitha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Cunha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013812:Therapeutics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid