Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
The Goeckerman Regimen for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis
Published on: July 11, 2013
Mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept) for psoriasis: a two-center, prospective, open-label clinical trial
Youwen Zhou1, Don Rosenthal, Jan Dutz
1Division of Dermatology, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. ywzhou@interchange.ubc.ca
Background:
Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an immune suppressant that selectively inhibits activated lymphocytes. Its usefulness in treating psoriasis has not been systematically investigated.
Objective:
To evaluate efficacy and safety of MMF as a monotherapy for psoriasis.
Methods:
This is a two-center, prospective, open-label clinical trial.
Results:
Twenty-three patients with moderate to severe psoriasis [mean psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) of 21.7] were treated with MMF 2-3 g/day for 12 weeks. Eighteen patients completed the study. The PASI was reduced by 24% (p < 0.001) at 6 weeks, and by 47% (p < 0.001) at 12 weeks. At the end of the treatment phase, 77% of the patients had significant reduction of PASI while 22% did not respond. The treatment was well tolerated. Five patients experienced mild nausea. One patient each had periorbital edema and pruritus. One patient had transient leukopenia.
Conclusion:
In this noncontrolled trial, the majority of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis responded to mycophenolate mofetil monotherapy with few adverse events. A randomized, controlled trial should be considered to confirm the usefulness of MMF as a monotherapy for psoriasis.
