Effect of mycophenolate sodium in scleroderma-related interstitial lung disease
Clinical Rheumatology, 09/12/2011
Clinical Article
Simeón-Aznar CP et al. – These prospective data suggest that MS is a safe and well-tolerated therapy for SSc-ILD patients, and it is capable of preventing functional pulmonary deterioration.
Methods- Prospective observational study
- Evaluated 14 consecutive SSc-ILD patients who were treated with MS for 12 months
- Effect of MS on lung function examined by using longitudinal data analytic methods
- Wilcoxon rank–sum tests were used to examine forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) by pulmonary function testing
- Median values for FVC, FEV1 and DLCO did not change significantly after 12 months of MS therapy and fulfilled definition of stable disease by American Thoracic Society
- After 12 months of treatment, 6 out of 14 patients showed pulmonary improvement defined as an increase of more than 10% in FVC, and 5 out of 14 patients remained stable
- Median FVC had declined non-significant 7.2% from previous 12 months before MS initiation
- No significant drug AE registered
