TY - JOUR
T1 - Treatment of refractory blistering autoimmune diseases with mycophenolic acid
AU - Marzano, Angelo V.
AU - Dassoni, Federica
AU - Caputo, Ruggero
PY - 2006/12
Y1 - 2006/12
N2 - Background: Immunosuppressive drugs are used as steroid-sparing agents in the management of blistering autoimmune diseases. Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is a relatively new adjuvant drug that selectively inhibits T and B lymphocyte proliferation by suppressing de novo purine synthesis. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of MPA in refractory blistering autoimmune diseases and the safety profile of a recent formulation, enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS), in comparison with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Patients and methods: Twelve patients with various bullous dermatoses (three pemphigus vulgaris, one pemphigus herpetiformis, three bullous pemphigoid (BP), two cicatricial pemphigoid (CP) and three epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA)) were enrolled in the study. In 10 cases, MPA was administered in combination with systemic corticosteroids, while in two patients with severe diabetes mellitus MPA was employed as monotherapy. The total time on MPA varied from 2 to 8 months. Four patients were given MMF (2000 mg daily), seven received EC-MPS (1440 mg daily) and one received both sequentially. Results: Complete remission, lasting for a mean time of 6.1 months, was achieved in 10 patients. Partial remission was obtained in two patients with disseminated CP and EBA. Both MMF and EC-MPS were well tolerated, but the latter was better in terms of gastrointestinal adverse effects. Conclusions: MPA may be proposed as a first-line adjuvant agent for pemphigus as well as for refractory BP and CP. MPA monotherapy has to be considered in selected cases of BP and pemphigus. The highly promising results obtained in EBA suggest a future key role for MPA in the management of this disease.
AB - Background: Immunosuppressive drugs are used as steroid-sparing agents in the management of blistering autoimmune diseases. Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is a relatively new adjuvant drug that selectively inhibits T and B lymphocyte proliferation by suppressing de novo purine synthesis. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of MPA in refractory blistering autoimmune diseases and the safety profile of a recent formulation, enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS), in comparison with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Patients and methods: Twelve patients with various bullous dermatoses (three pemphigus vulgaris, one pemphigus herpetiformis, three bullous pemphigoid (BP), two cicatricial pemphigoid (CP) and three epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA)) were enrolled in the study. In 10 cases, MPA was administered in combination with systemic corticosteroids, while in two patients with severe diabetes mellitus MPA was employed as monotherapy. The total time on MPA varied from 2 to 8 months. Four patients were given MMF (2000 mg daily), seven received EC-MPS (1440 mg daily) and one received both sequentially. Results: Complete remission, lasting for a mean time of 6.1 months, was achieved in 10 patients. Partial remission was obtained in two patients with disseminated CP and EBA. Both MMF and EC-MPS were well tolerated, but the latter was better in terms of gastrointestinal adverse effects. Conclusions: MPA may be proposed as a first-line adjuvant agent for pemphigus as well as for refractory BP and CP. MPA monotherapy has to be considered in selected cases of BP and pemphigus. The highly promising results obtained in EBA suggest a future key role for MPA in the management of this disease.
KW - Blistering autoimmune diseases
KW - Enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium
KW - Mycophenolate mofetil
KW - Mycophenolic acid
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U2 - 10.1080/09546630600964999
DO - 10.1080/09546630600964999
M3 - Article
C2 - 17853312
AN - SCOPUS:34250184467
VL - 17
SP - 370
EP - 376
JO - Journal of Dermatological Treatment
JF - Journal of Dermatological Treatment
SN - 0954-6634
IS - 6
ER -