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 additional patients with autoimmune and inflammatory skin diseases, including 4 cases of pemphigus vulgaris, 1 case of pemphigus foliaceus, 1 case of perineal and metastatic cutaneous Crohn’s disease, 1 case of bullous pemphigoid and psoriasis, and 1 case of psoriasis. Most of these patients had refractory disease or had developed significant side effects to conventional therapy, including azathioprine, methotrexate, prednisone, cyclosporine, acitretin, PUVA, UVB, and tacrolimus. MMF was effective and well tolerated in all these patients. The dosages of MMF ranged from 500 mg twice daily (for psoriasis and Crohn’s disease) to 1250 mg twice daily (for 3 of 4 patients with pemphigus vulgaris). MMF is an effective and relatively safe immunosuppressant in autoimmune and inflammatory skin diseases. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1999;40:265-8.)