Effect and Safety of Mycophenolate Mofetil in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. (1st November 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tzouvelekis, Argyris; Bouros, Evangelos; Oikonomou, Anastasia; Ntolios, Paschalis; Zacharis, George; Kolios, George; Bouros, Demosthenes
• Other Names: Strange Charlie Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Pulmonary medicine. Volume 2011(2011)
• Publication Date: 2011-11-01
• Subjects: Lungs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Lung Diseases; Lungs -- Diseases; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals -- Sciences; Electronic journals -- Medicine; Periodicals; 616.24
• DOI: 10.1155/2011/849035
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-1836

Abstract

Abstract : Background . Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrotic interstitial lung disease with ineffective treatment. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an immunomodulatory agent which inhibits lymphocyte proliferation. Objective . We sought to determine the safety and efficacy profile of MMF in IPF patients. Methods . We retrospectively identified ten patients, who met the ATS/ERS 2000 criteria for IPF and received MMF 2 gr/day for 12 months. All of them had routine laboratory, pulmonary function and radiological (high resolution computed tomography-HRCT) data available and were enrolled in the study. Forced vital capacity (FVC), total lung capacity (TLC), diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO ), 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), HRCT scans and routine laboratory data at treatment onset were compared with respective values 12 months after treatment onset. Results . There were no significant alterations in FVC, TLC, DLCO and 6MWD pre- and 6 and 12 months post-treatment. HRCT evaluation showed deterioration of the total extent of disease (P = 0.002 ) and extent of ground-glass opacity (P = 0.02 ). No cases of clinically significant infection, leucopenia, or elevated liver enzymes were recorded. Conclusions . MMF is a safe therapeutic modality which failed to show a beneficial effect both in functional and radiological parameters in a small cohort of IPF patients.