title: Mycophenolate mofetil in primary central nervous system vasculitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in adult primary central nervous system vasculitis (PCNSV).
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied a cohort of 163 patients with PCNSV who were seen at the Mayo Clinic from 1983 to 2011. We compared patients treated with MMF and those receiving other therapies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 16 patients treated with MMF. MMF in combination with GCs achieved a favorable response in most patients. A significant proportion of patients treated with MMF had a less severe disability at last follow-up compared to those receiving other therapies (p = 0.023) and cyclophosphamide and prednisone (p = 0.017). No statistically significant differences were observed regarding relapses and ability to discontinue therapy at last follow-up. A trend to a more favorable treatment response was observed in patients treated with MMF compared to those treated with other therapies (p = 0.075). Only 1 patient suspended MMF for severe leukopenia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMF seems to be an effective and safe therapy for adult PCNSV.
authors: Unitá Operativa di Reumatologia, Azienda Ospedaliera-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy. Electronic address: salvarani.carlo@asmn.re.it.
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Salvarani
authors: Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors: Robert D
authors: RD
authors: Brown
authors: Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors: Teresa J H
authors: TJ
authors: Christianson
authors: Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Huston
authors: Division of Anatomic Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors: Caterina
authors: C
authors: Giannini
authors: Division of Anatomic Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors: Dylan V
authors: DV
authors: Miller
authors: Unitá Operativa di Reumatologia, Azienda Ospedaliera-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Muratore
authors: Division of Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors: Gene G
authors: GG
authors: Hunder
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020293:Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid
keywords: Mycophenolate mofetil; PCNSV; Therapy; Vasculitis