Conversion from mycophenolate mofetil to enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium in liver transplant patients presenting gastrointestinal disorders: A pilot study

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2006 papers

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are one of the main adverse events in patients treated by mycophenolic acid (MPA). The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the effect of conversion from mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) to enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) in liver transplant patients presenting GI side-effects Since January 2003, stable liver transplant patients receiving MMF and presenting GI disorders, without evidence of other origin than MMF were enrolled. Conversion was performed without a washout period at an equimolar daily dosage. Thirty-six patients were included after a median delay of 45 months after liver transplantation (LT) (16 women and 20 men, median age of 47 years). Diarrhoea was the main clinical symptom (n = 28, 77.7%). At the time of inclusion, patients were treated with MMF since 18 months (range 3-28) and GI disorders were known for 9 months (range 3-12). After a median follow-up of 12 months after conversion, GI disorders were resolved in 20 patients (55%), improved in 6 patients (17%) and not modified or worsened in 10 patients (28%). Our results strongly suggest that conversion from MMF to EC-MPS in liver transplant patients can improve gastrointestinal disorders in a majority of the patients, and therefore might be considered as the best therapeutic option.

Related Papers

• → Immunosuppressive and other Effects of Mycophenolic Acid and an Ester Prodrug, Mycophenolate Mofetil(1993)390 cited
• Stability of mycophenolic acid in plasma samples from patients during mycophenolate mofetil therapy.(2003)
• Mycophenolate mofetil (RS-61443): preclinical, clinical, and three-year experience in heart transplantation.(1994)
• → PHARMACOKINETICS OF MYCOPHENOLIC ACID AND MYCOPHENOLIC ACID FREE FRACTION IN STABLE RENAL TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS TREATED WITH DIFFERENT DOSES OF MYCOPHENOLATE MOFETIL.(2000)
• [Mycophenolate mofetil, a possible new immunosuppresant].(2002)