Mycophenolate mofetil for lupus nephritis.

Approved treatment options for moderate-to-severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis (LN) are presently very limited. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), an immunosuppressive agent indicated for acute transplant rejection prophylaxis, has been increasingly used to treat these conditions. The best evidence-based information on the use of MMF in SLE comes from studies of LN. Randomized, controlled trials of MMF have been conducted only in this subset of lupus patients. The data suggest that the drug is well tolerated, effective and should be considered a useful alternative to standard immunosuppressants for the treatment of LN. The aim of this article is to examine the available evidence concerning MMF in lupus and LN.