Mycophenolate mofetil in autoimmune and inflammatory skin disorders

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has been widely used as an immunosuppressant in organ transplantation. MMF has recently been added to therapeutic regimens for skin disorders. Expanding the use of MMF in dermatology, we describe a dditional patients with autoimmune and inflammatory skin diseases, includin g 4 cases of pemphigus vulgaris, 1 case of pemphigus foliaceus, 1 case of p erineal and metastatic cutaneous Crohn's disease, 1 case of bullous pemphig oid and psoriasis, and 1 case of psoriasis. Most of these patients had refr actory disease or had developed significant side effects to conventional th erapy, including azathioprine, methotrexate, prednisone, cyclosporine, acit retin, PUVA, WE, and tacrolimus. MMF was effective and well tolerated in al l these patients. The dosages of MMF ranged from 500 mg twice daily (for ps oriasis and Crohn's disease) to 1250 mg twice daily (for 3 of 4 patients wi th pemphigus vulgaris). MMF is an effective and relatively safe immunosuppr essant in autoimmune and inflammatory skin diseases.