| Title | Mycophenolate Mofetil as Second Line Immunosuppressant in Myasthenia gravis - A Long-term Prospective Open-label Study. | | Author(s) | Hanisch F, Wendt M, Zierz S | | Institution | Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Ernst-Grube Str. 40, 06097 Halle/Saale, Germany. frank.hanisch@medizin.uni-halle.de. | | Source | Eur J Med Res 2009 Aug 12; 14(8):364-6. | | Abstract | Background: The preferred immunosuppressive drug for long term treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG) is azathioprine (AZA). Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was suggested as an effective and safe second line alternative to AZA. -
Methods: In a prospective open-label study, 11 patients with acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR-ab) positive MG (n = 4 ocular MG, n = 7 generalized MG) were treated with MMF which replaced AZA. Reasons for the change of immunosuppressant therapy were side effects (n = 9) or unresponsiveness under AZA (n = 3). -
Results: Mean duration of MMF treatment was 16.9 months (6-46 months). During MMF treatment AZA side effects resolved in 8/9 patients, concomitant therapy could be discontinued in 4 patients and reduced in 5 patients, and 5 patients remitted and 3 remained in remission. One MMF-refractory patient required add-on IVIG therapy and another with ocular MG showed signs of generalization after 20 months of MG treatment. One patient was diagnosed with bronchial carcinoma after 10 months of MMF treatment. -
Conclusion: Due to its favourable spectrum of side effects compared to AZA MMF might serve as a second-line immunosuppressant in those MG patients who have not tolerated AZA. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Journal Article
| | PubMed ID | 19666397 |
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