Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 10, 2025
04:44
Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
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Mycophenolate Mofetil Improves Exercise Tolerance in Systemic Sclerosis Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease: A
Valentina Vaiarello1, Stefano Schiavetto2, Federica Foti1
1Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
Rheumatology and Therapy
|August 31, 2020
Summary
Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) treatment improved exercise tolerance and reduced leg discomfort in patients with systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). These findings suggest MMF may benefit SSc-ILD patients, warranting further investigation in larger trials.
Area of Science:
- Cardiopulmonary Medicine
- Rheumatology
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease causing fibrosis, with interstitial lung disease (ILD) being a major cause of mortality.
- Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) assesses exercise tolerance in conditions like SSc-ILD.
- Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a first-line therapy for SSc-ILD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of MMF in improving exercise tolerance in SSc-ILD patients using CPET.
Main Methods:
- Ten SSc patients with ILD were treated with MMF (1500 mg twice daily) for 24 months.
- Evaluations included clinical assessment, echocardiography, pulmonary function tests, HRCT, and CPET at baseline and after treatment.
Main Results:
- MMF did not significantly improve lung function (FVC, DLCO), pulmonary arterial pressure, or HRCT findings.
- Significant improvements were observed in respiratory exchange ratio and reduced leg discomfort (Borg scale) after MMF treatment.
- Peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) and ventilatory equivalents (VE/VCO2 slope) showed no significant improvement.
Conclusions:
- This pilot study suggests MMF may improve exercise tolerance and leg discomfort in SSc-ILD patients.
- These preliminary findings require confirmation in larger, randomized controlled trials.
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