Mycophenolate mofetil in the therapy of severe myasthenia gravis

Mycophenolate mofetil is a novel immunosuppressive drug already established in transplantation medicine. Recently, results of three open clinical tria ls on mycophenolate mofetil in myasthenia gravis have been reported. Mycoph enolate mofetil in a dose of 1.0-2.0 g/day was given in 2 patients with sev ere refractory myasthenia gravis and in 1 patient with myasthenia gravis-po lymyositis syndrome. Apart from dose-dependent reversible hemolytic anemia in 1 patient, no severe side effects occurred. Considerable improvement of myasthenic symptoms was seen in all patients within 3-6 months after the in itiation of this therapy. Mycophenolate mofetil may be considered as a usef ul alternative in the treatment of severe myasthenia gravis when standard t herapeutic regimens fail. It is usually well tolerated and its application is simple. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.