Jane W Chan1. 1. Dept. of Neurology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, 1707 W. Charleston Blvd. Suite 220, Las Vegas, NV 89102, USA. worjun@aol.com
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study the safety and tolerability of mycophenolate mofetil (MM), since this steroid-sparing immunomodulatory agent with less side effects, compared to corticosteroids, may be considered for long-term management of ocular myasthenia (OMG). METHODS: Consecutive patients with OMG started on MM between December 2000 and December 2002 were followed up to December 2006. RESULTS: All of the 31 patients with OMG were treated with prednisone at 40-60 mg/d while MM was increased up to the target of 1.0 g/d. After symptoms completely resolved, all patients were then tapered off prednisone over a period of 4 weeks. Eighty-seven percent (27/31) of patients continued on MM during the study. Mycophenolate mofetil discontinuation occurred in 4/31 (13%) of patients within the first four months of starting the drug. Of the patients who continued on MM, 93% (25/27) remained at stage I of the disease. The 7% (2/27) of patients on MM who generalized in our study did so by 2 years and were treated with additional prednisone. MM-related adverse events included nausea in 9 of 31 patients, diarrhea in 5 of 31 patients, and vomiting in 1/31 patients. No cases of infections, cytopenias, or malignancies were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Eighty-seven percent of OMG patients on corticosteroids who were switched to MM remained at Stage I of the disease over a mean period of 4.2 years. MM at 1.0 g/d was safe and tolerable as a long-term immunosuppressant for OMG.
OBJECTIVE: To study the safety and tolerability of mycophenolate mofetil (MM), since this steroid-sparing immunomodulatory agent with less side effects, compared to corticosteroids, may be considered for long-term management of ocular myasthenia (OMG). METHODS: Consecutive patients with OMG started on MM between December 2000 and December 2002 were followed up to December 2006. RESULTS: All of the 31 patients with OMG were treated with prednisone at 40-60 mg/d while MM was increased up to the target of 1.0 g/d. After symptoms completely resolved, all patients were then tapered off prednisone over a period of 4 weeks. Eighty-seven percent (27/31) of patients continued on MM during the study. Mycophenolate mofetil discontinuation occurred in 4/31 (13%) of patients within the first four months of starting the drug. Of the patients who continued on MM, 93% (25/27) remained at stage I of the disease. The 7% (2/27) of patients on MM who generalized in our study did so by 2 years and were treated with additional prednisone. MM-related adverse events included nausea in 9 of 31 patients, diarrhea in 5 of 31 patients, and vomiting in 1/31 patients. No cases of infections, cytopenias, or malignancies were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Eighty-seven percent of OMGpatients on corticosteroids who were switched to MM remained at Stage I of the disease over a mean period of 4.2 years. MM at 1.0 g/d was safe and tolerable as a long-term immunosuppressant for OMG.
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