• Neslihan Yilmaz, Meryem Can, Derya Kocakaya, Sait Karakurt, and Sule Yavuz.
• Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey; Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Science University, Istanbul, Turkey.
• Int J Rheum Dis. 2014 Nov 1; 17 (8): 923-8.

AbstractTo assess the effect of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) on pulmonary functions in patients with systemic sclerosis-associated lung disease (SSc-ILD) who experienced an inadequate response to first line cyclophosphamide (CYC) therapy. Twelve consecutive SSc-ILD patients who received MMF due to inadequate response to CYC as a first line agent, were retrospectively reviewed. Over the course of 2 years, pulmonary function tests (PFT) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans were performed. Following initial baseline tests, PFTs were continued at a frequency of every 6 months and HRCT scans were performed every 12 months. After MMF treatment, values of forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) improved in three (25%) and two (16.6%) patients, respectively. It is also noted that the evaluation of serial HCRT scans showed no change in 54.5% of patients. Our case series suggested that PFT and imaging scores seemed to be stabilized by MMF in SSc-ILD patients who were inadequate responders to CYC.© 2014 Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

29 keywords...

hide…