[Therapy of lupus nephritis with mycophenolate mofetil]

Mycophenolate mofetil is an immunosupressive agent used in transplantation and subsequently in a variety of autoimmune conditions. It inhibits both B and T lymphocyte proliferation, and also has nonimmune effects on the kidney. The major experience in systemic lupus erythematosus has focused on proliferative lupus nephritis.

In our study we treated 8 female patients with proliferative lupus nefritis with combination therapy of prednisone (1 mg/kg body weight) and mycophenolate mofetil (2 g per day). Complete remission was defined as a value for urinary protein excretion that was less than 0.5 g per 24 hours, with normal urinary sediment, a normal serum albumin concentration and improved or stable serum creatinine. Partial remission was defined as a daily proteinuria below 2 g in a previously nephrotic patient or minimum 30% from starting values, with normal urinary sediment, serum albumin of minimum 30 g/L and stable serum creatinine.

Two patients had a complete remission after 7 and 2 months respectively. Five patients had a partial remission after 5.2+/-4.3 months of therapy. One patient did not react on therapy. There were no side effects during the course of therapy.

Considering the fact that 7/8 patients have had nephrotic range proteinuria and that 50% of patients were refractory on standard induction therapy, results of this study are good indicator of value of mycophenolate mofetil in the terapy of proliferative forms of lupus nephritis.

Mycophenolate mofetil gives satisfactory results in the treatment of proliferative forms of lupus nephritis with minimal side effects.