New Mayo Clinic Therapy Effective for Lupus

Based on personal attendance to American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting

New research presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting held in Boston, Mass., has revealed that a new immunosuppressive drug used in organ transplant cases may help lupus cancer patients.

The new drug, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF),Has been effective in reducing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) flare-ups by half, Kevin Moder, M.D said at the conference.

Lupus or Systemyc lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are characterized by the patient's own immune system attacking the body's cells and tissue resulting in tissue damage. In SLE skin, liver, joints, kidneys, lungs, nervous system, blood vessels, and other organs of the body are heavily affected.

Lupus has no cure up to date. The lupus chronic disease is characterized by periods in which inflammation and symptoms are exacerbated. These periods are called flares-up. During a flare-up the patient's condition and quality of life declines abruptly. In SLE only symptoms can be controlled by the use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.

Now it comes this new drug that seem to be effective in managing symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by controlling overall flares-up and sever flare-ups. Researchers also found that MMF is well tolerated and has fewer side effects in contrast to many other medications used to treat the disease that do have a lot of side effects.

In this study, researchers reviewed the clinical history of 88 patients treated with MMF at Mayo Clinic over a 24-months period. Data on lupus flares and general health indicators were reviewed. Participants have had lupus for an average of 10 years. The majority of participants were women.

The number of flares-up decreased from 155 to 99 (a 36% decrease) after treatment with MMF started. Sever flare-ups were reduced by almost 45% (from 98 to 54).