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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Fluorescence-mediated Tomography for the Detection and Quantification of Macrophage-related Murine Intestinal Inflammation
07:05

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Published on: December 15, 2017

Patterns of injury in mycophenolate mofetil-related colitis

A I Al-Absi1, C R Cooke, B M Wall

  • 1Nephrology Department, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. aalabsi@uthsc.edu

Transplantation Proceedings
|November 25, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), an immunosuppressant, can cause gastrointestinal issues. This report details colon changes linked to MMF, which resolved after drug discontinuation, highlighting potential side effects in organ transplant patients.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Immunology
  • Transplantation Medicine

Background:

  • Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a widely used immunosuppressant in solid-organ transplantation.
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity, including diarrhea, is a known side effect of MMF.
  • Physicians often manage MMF-related GI issues by dose reduction or switching to alternative formulations.

Observation:

  • Colonoscopic findings in patients using MMF for immunosuppression are not routinely investigated due to the presumed link to GI side effects.
  • However, MMF use has been associated with Crohn's disease-like changes, erosive enterocolitis, and graft-versus-host disease-like colonic alterations.
  • This report describes colonic findings in five patients experiencing symptom resolution after MMF discontinuation.

Findings:

  • The study identified specific colonic changes associated with MMF use.
  • Symptoms resolved in all five patients after switching from MMF to another agent.
  • One patient showed reparative changes on repeat colonoscopy four months post-MMF discontinuation.

Implications:

  • MMF is crucial for preventing organ rejection but may have underrecognized colonic side effects.
  • Awareness of these potential GI complications is important for managing transplant patients on MMF.
  • Further investigation into MMF-induced colonic pathology may be warranted given its widespread use.

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