Enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium in pediatric lupus nephritis: a retrospective cohort study.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to examine the long-term efficacy and complications associated with use of enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) for treatment of pediatric lupus nephritis (LN).


METHODS
This was a retrospective analysis of pediatric patients treated between 1995 and 2008. Comparisons were made between patients with LN who were and were not treated with EC-MPS (MPS and non-MPS groups). The primary endpoint was survival. The secondary endpoint was time to stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD). Response rates, laboratory parameters, and complications were determined.


RESULTS
There were 33 patients in the MPS group and 19 patients in the non-MPS group. The MPS group had more patients with complete/partial response (72.7 vs. 31.6 %; P < 0.001) and a significantly higher survival rate (0.0 vs. 42.1 %, P < 0.001), but the groups had similar rates of stage 3 CKD. The rebound of complement 3 was more rapid in the MPS group. There were no significant between-group differences in the incidence of complications, including gastrointestinal complications.


CONCLUSIONS
A limitation of this study is the heterogeneity in the timing of treatment and in the duration of follow-up. Nonetheless, our findings suggest that EC-MPS can be an effective treatment for pediatric LN.
Department of Pediatrics, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan, ROC.
Hsin-Hsu
HH
Chou
Department of Long Term Care, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC.
Mei-Ju
MJ
Chen
Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng-Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC. yuanyow@mail.ncku.edu.tw.|Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Cheng-Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, 138 Sheng-Li Rd., Tainan, Taiwan, ROC. yuanyow@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
Yuan-Yow
YY
Chiou
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid
Enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium; Lupus nephritis; Mycophenolic acid; Pediatric; Treatment