A prospective study on the use of mycophenolate mofetil in children with cyclosporine-dependent nephrotic syndrome

Cyclosporine A (CsA) has relieved children with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (NS) from steroid toxicity. However, most patients frequently relapse again when CsA is withdrawn, resulting in the development of CsA nephropathy for its long-term use. In order to assess the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) therapy, we prospectively analyzed 12 children with idiopathic steroid-dependent NS requiring long-term CsA therapy with MMF for at least 6 months. Mean follow-up after starting MMF was 11 months (range 6-4(2)/12 h, which maintained mean predose mycophenolic acid (C0-MPA) levels of 2.4 +/- 1.1 mcg/ml. Treatment with MMF resulted in CsA and/or prednisolone (PSL) sparing, with a reduction in mean CsA dose from 3.5 +/- 1.3 to 1.5 +/- 2.4 mg/kg/day (p < 0.01), and mean PSL dose from 0.29 +/- 0.16 to 0.21 +/- 0.11 mg/kg/day (p < 0.05). Nine of 12 patients (75%) were finally able to be weaned off CsA. Mean relapse rates decreased from 2.7 +/- 1.6 to 0.6 +/- 0.9 episodes/year (p < 0.01). Relapse-free ratio on MMF therapy was lower in patients whose average C0-MPA levels were less than 2 mcg/ml (p < 0.05). Our experience demonstrates that MMF therapy results in significant CsA and/or steroid sparing and reduction in relapse rates in children with CsA-dependent NS.