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Updated: May 13, 2026
04:44
Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Mycophenolate mofetil improves lung function in connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease
Aryeh Fischer1, Kevin K Brown, Roland M Du Bois
1Autoimmune and Interstitial Lung Disease Program, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado 80206, USA. fischera@njhealth.org
The Journal of Rheumatology
|March 5, 2013
Summary
Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a well-tolerated treatment for connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD). This therapy demonstrated significant improvements in pulmonary function over a median of 2.5 years.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Rheumatology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) poses significant challenges.
- Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has shown promise in small studies for CTD-ILD treatment.
- Larger, diverse cohort data are needed to confirm MMF's efficacy and tolerability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and tolerability of MMF in a large cohort of CTD-ILD patients.
- To assess longitudinal changes in pulmonary physiology in CTD-ILD patients treated with MMF.
- To determine MMF's effectiveness across different CTD-ILD patterns.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of consecutive CTD-ILD patients prescribed MMF.
- Assessment of MMF safety, tolerability, and discontinuation rates.
- Longitudinal data analysis of pulmonary function tests (FVC%, DLCO%) before and after MMF initiation.
Main Results:
- MMF was prescribed to 125 patients for a median of 897 days with a low discontinuation rate (13/125).
- Significant improvements were observed in forced vital capacity (FVC%) and diffusing capacity (DLCO%) at multiple time points up to 156 weeks.
- MMF improved FVC% and DLCO% in patients without usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern and stabilized lung function in those with UIP pattern.
Conclusions:
- MMF is well-tolerated and associated with a low discontinuation rate in a diverse CTD-ILD cohort.
- MMF treatment leads to stable or improved pulmonary function over a median follow-up of 2.5 years.
- MMF represents a promising therapeutic option for the spectrum of CTD-ILD.
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