[A case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) successfully treated with mizoribine (Bredinin)]

Mizoribine, a novel immunosuppressive agent developed in Japan, was administered as a monotherapy to a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patient with the clinical symptoms and immunological abnormalities accompanying SLE showing marked improvement. The result of prolonged administration over 22 months in this case showed neither relapse nor side-effects. Reports have been made about mizoribine used concomitantly with steroids in the treatment of SLE; however, there have not been any reports of mizoribine as a monotherapy for SLE being effective. In this case, mizoribine (150 mg/day) was administered without steroids as a monotherapy on a outpatient basis since the patient's condition overall was relatively good and the serious complications of the heart, kidneys, and lungs that accompany SLE were not observed. The results of this treatment showed improvements in alopecia, arthritis, and systemic malaise from about the 4th week after the start of administration, and the clinical symptoms that accompany SLE had completely disappeared in the 8th week. Also, the immunological tests markedly improved. Four months after the start of administration the immunological abnormalities in the anti-DNA antibody, rheumatoid factor, and immune complex were completely corrected. This case showed dramatic improvement in the SLE clinical symptoms and immunological abnormalities with the mizoribine monotherapy as well as the potential for mizoribine monotherapy to maintain a state of remission over the long term.