Mycophenolate mofetil: an effective corticosteroid-sparing drug in steroid-dependent asthma

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_EB6BFB478FE5
Type
Inproceedings: an article in a conference proceedings.
Publication sub-type
Abstract (Abstract): shot summary in a article that contain essentials elements presented during a scientific conference, lecture or from a poster.
Collection
Publications
Title
Mycophenolate mofetil: an effective corticosteroid-sparing drug in steroid-dependent asthma
Title of the conference
15th Annual Congress of the European Respiratory Society (ERS)
Author(s)
Minder S., Salomon J.E., Mordasini C., Nicod L.P.
Address
Copenhagen, Denmark, September 17-21, 2005
ISBN
0903-1936
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2005
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
26
Series
European Respiratory Journal
Pages
427
Language
english
Notes
So far, there are no satisfactory drugs with a consistent corticosteroid(CS)-sparing effect in patients with severe asthma. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a powerful and relatively specific inhibitor of lymphocyte proliferation and recruitment, which induces apoptosis of activated T-cells. We present 2 patients with CS-dependent asthma treated with MMF. The patients were on high doses of inhaled CS, long-acting β-agonists and long-term oral CS. Baseline FEV1 (%predicted) in the previous year varied between 35 and 70% in the first and between 47 and 69% in the second patient. Prednisone couldn't be reduced below 20mg/d without consecutive exacerbations. Given a symptomatic osteoporosis in both patients alternative therapies were considered. Cyclophosphamide (1g/m iv pulses for 4m) in the first patient showed no convincing CS-sparing effect. The other patient received methotrexate (25mg/w sc for 16m). Although this regimen allowed to reduce prednisone to ≥10mg/d, methotrexate had to be discontinued due to gastrointestinal side effects. In both patients MMF was started (initially 2x1g/d). Leucocyte count and serum PCR for cytomegalovirus were monitored. Prednisone could subsequently be tapered to 10mg/d. Dyspnea-score remained stable (ATS II) and FEV1 increased from 43 to 63% and 58 to 68%, respectively. The treatment was well tolerated. We conclude that MMF could be an effective and relatively safe CS-sparing agent in patients with CS-dependent asthma. A larger case series seems to be warranted.
Create date
30/03/2010 17:54
Last modification date
20/08/2019 17:13
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