mycophenolic-acid and Fasciitis

Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is an uncommon autoimmune connective tissue disorder characterized by edema, erythema, and subsequent induration of the extremities. It is commonly treated with corticosteroids but there is no treatment ladder for immunosuppressants or steroid-sparing agents. We report two EF cases treated effectively with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or mycophenolic acid (MPA) and present a literature review. We performed a MEDLINE search using the keywords 'eosinophilic fasciitis', 'Shulman syndrome', 'mycophenolic acid', or 'mofetil mycophenolate', and found 8 articles with 27 cases in which MMF or MPA was used. Twenty-nine cases were reviewed (2 reported herein and 27 from the literature search); all patients received a combination of systemic corticosteroids and MMF. MMF/MPA were given as a steroid-sparing agent in 27 (93.1%), in 1 (3.4%) as adjunctive therapy with other immunosuppressants, and in one, as monotherapy 1 (3.4%). Nineteen had a complete response, 6, a partial response, and 2 were unresponsive to diverse immunomodulators; in 2 cases, the outcome was not reported. MMF and MPA show promising therapeutic results and could be a treatment option to reduce corticosteroid related side effects.

Topics: Autoimmune Diseases; Fasciitis; Glucocorticoids; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Mycophenolic Acid

Sclerotic skin manifestations of chronic graft-versus-host disease (ScGVHD) lead to significant morbidity, including functional disability from joint range of motion (ROM) restriction. No superior second-line therapy has been established for steroid-refractory disease. Imatinib mesylate is a multikinase inhibitor of several signaling pathways implicated in skin fibrosis with in vitro antifibrotic activity. We performed an open-label pilot phase II trial of imatinib in children and adults with corticosteroid-refractory ScGVHD. Twenty patients were enrolled in a 6-month trial. Eight received a standard dose (adult, 400 mg daily; children, 260 mg/m(2) daily). Because of poor tolerability, 12 additional patients underwent a dose escalation regimen (adult, 100 mg daily initial dose up to 200 mg daily maximum; children, initial dose 65 mg/m(2) daily up to 130 mg/m(2) daily). Fourteen patients were assessable for primary response, improvement in joint ROM deficit, at 6 months. Primary outcome criteria for partial response was met in 5 of 14 (36%), stable disease in 7 of 14 (50%), and progressive disease in 2 of 14 (14%) patients. Eleven patients (79%), including 5 with partial response and 6 with stable disease, demonstrated a positive gain in ROM (range of 3% to 94% improvement in deficit). Of 13 patients with measurable changes at 6 months, the average improvement in ROM deficit was 24.2% (interquartile range, 15.5% to 30.5%; P = .011). This trial is registered at http://clinicaltrials.gov as NCT007020689.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antineoplastic Agents; Child; Drug Administration Schedule; Fasciitis; Female; Graft vs Host Disease; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Imatinib Mesylate; Joints; Leukemia; Male; Middle Aged; Mycophenolic Acid; Pilot Projects; Prednisone; Range of Motion, Articular; Recurrence; Skin Diseases; Tacrolimus; Transplantation, Homologous

Topics: Eosinophilia; Fasciitis; Female; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Male; Mycophenolic Acid; Retrospective Studies; Tertiary Care Centers; Treatment Outcome

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) diagnosed in the first year of life is an immunodeficiency with a life-long indication for substitution of immunoglobulins, due to lack of B lymphocytes in the periphery. The decrease of bacterial infection frequency and severity is an effect of immunoglobulin replacement. However, in the majority of patients bronchiectasis and chronic sinusitis with an overgrown mucous membrane develop despite regular substitution. Autoimmune diseases as co-existing diseases in XLA are noted in a few patients presenting symptoms associated with arthritis, scleroderma and myositis. Our patient was diagnosed with XLA in the first year of life, followed by regular substitution of immunoglobulins. The symptoms of pain, edema of muscles of the right shank with skin edema and discoloration after mild injury were noted in a 13-year-old boy. Shulman disease was diagnosed after 6 months of symptoms, based on histopathology of muscle and skin biopsy. Before the diagnosis, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) were used with a transient effect. After the diagnosis, therapy included steroids, immunoglobulins in a high dose and immunosuppression, with improvement of clinical symptoms. During methotrexate (MTX) therapy the patient developed two episodes of pneumonia, so mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was used, with a similar effect. Now, with this therapy, the symptoms are mild and stable without progression.

Topics: Adolescent; Agammaglobulinemia; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Eosinophilia; Fasciitis; Genetic Diseases, X-Linked; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Male; Mycophenolic Acid

We report the case of a pediatric patient with eosinophilic fasciitis, who was successfully treated with early high dose corticosteroids and subsequent use of mycophenolate mofetil. We believe that the early institution of corticosteroids helped to suppress the early inflammatory part of the disease and the subsequent use of mycophenolate mofetil maintained this and may have also helped prevent fibrotic skin changes.

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Child; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Eosinophilia; Fasciitis; Humans; Male; Mycophenolic Acid