New Treatment May Become First Line Therapy for Lupus Nephritis

Newswise — A new treatment was shown to be as effective as a standard treatment with potentially fewer side effects for patients with lupus nephritis, a kidney disorder affecting many patients as a complication of systemic lupus erythematosus, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

In a 24-week study of 140 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who had advanced stages of lupus nephritis, investigators compared the effectiveness of an oral dose of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), an immunosuppressive drug regarded as having favorable efficacy and safety compared to other similar drugs to the traditional first-line treatment, intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVC).. At the start of the study, 71 patients received MMF and 69 patients received IVC; patients failing to improve in at least one key area after 12 weeks were converted to the other regimen. Of the 130 patients that completed the study, 52 of 66 patients receiving MMF completed the entire 24 weeks, versus 38 of the 64 on IVC. There were 14 complete remissions, that is the disease became inactive, on MMF and four complete remissions on IVC; 21 partial remissions, or improvement in the still active disease, were recorded in patients on MMF and 14 in patients on IVC. Severe infections were less common in patients receiving MMF. Investigators concluded that MMF was as effective as IVC, with fewer complications and equal patient acceptance of the therapy.

"The results of this study support the conclusion that treatment with MMF is an appropriate alternative to IVC for induction therapy of severe lupus nephritis," said Ellen Ginzler, MD, Professor of Medicine and Chief of Rheumatology, SUNY Downstate, Brooklyn, New York, and lead investigator in the study. "Lupus patients and their physicians have the opportunity to consider lifestyle options and possible medication side effects in the selection of a treatment regimen for lupus nephritis."

The American College of Rheumatology is the professional organization for rheumatologists and health professionals who share a dedication to healing, preventing disability and curing arthritis and related rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. For more information on the ACR's annual meeting, see http://www.rheumatology.org/annual.