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Mycophenolate mofetil is an effective and safe option for the management of systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease: results from the Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study
METHODS: Patients in the Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study treated with at least 3 months of MMF or AZA for SSc-ILD confirmed on high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) chest were identified and their pulmonary function tests (PFTs) retrieved. Individuals with available results for T-1 (12 months prior to treatment commencement), T0 (date of treatment commencement) and at least one subsequent time point were included in the drug efficacy analysis. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare absolute FVC at T1, T0, 12 months (T1), 24 months (T2) and 36 months (T3). Analysis of drug tolerability included all identified patients treated with MMF or AZA.
RESULTS: 18/22 patients treated with MMF and 29/49 treated with AZA had adequate PFTs for inclusion in the drug efficacy analysis. Median absolute FVC at T1 for MMF treatment was 2.50L, declining to 2.12L at T0 (p=0.02). Following MMF therapy, FVC results were stable at T1 (2.13L, p=0.86), T2 (2.17L, p=0.65) and T3 (2.25L, p=0.78). In the AZA group, a statistically significant decline did not occur prior to treatment, however FVC results remained stable at T1, T2 and T3.Adverse events leading to early discontinuation (<12 months treatment) were less common in the MMF group (4/22 vs. 13/49). Gastrointestinal complications were the main cause of discontinuation in both groups.
CONCLUSIONS: In patients with SSc-ILD with declining pulmonary function, MMF therapy was associated with stability for up to 36 months. Early adverse events leading to discontinuation occurred less frequently in patients treated with MMF than in AZA treated patients.
History
Publication title
Clinical and Experimental RheumatologyVolume
34Issue
Suppl. 100Pagination
S170-S176ISSN
0392-856XDepartment/School
Menzies Institute for Medical ResearchPublisher
Pacini Editore SpAPlace of publication
ItalyRights statement
Copyright 2016 Clinical and Experimental RheumatologyRepository Status
- Restricted