[Mycophenolate mofetil--a new therapeutic agent for chronic autoimmune diseases].

BACKGROUND: Mycophenolate mofetil is an immunosuppressive agent frequently used in regimens to prevent allograft rejection. In this review we focus on mycophenolate mofetil as a potential drug for chronic autoimmune diseases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched PubMed for relevant literature and present two case histories.

RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: Treatment with mycophenolate mofetil is best documented in lupus nephritis. In this context, some studies have documented an effect equal to cyclophosphamide for induction treatment, and equal to azathioprine, and better than cyclophosphamide for remission maintenance. Mycophenolate mofetil is today an alternative, although experimental, agent for the treatment of certain autoimmune diseases when conventional drugs have failed or are not tolerated; in the future it may become more widely used for immunosuppression. To establish the role for mycophenolate mofetil, more prospective controlled multicentre studies are warranted.