
pmid: 20795786
Mycophenolic acid (MPA) therapy is a fundamental component of most post-transplant immunosuppressive regimens. Side effects, however, are common and frequently necessitate dose reductions or discontinuations.Enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) is designed to improve the gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability of MPA. This review assesses the pharmacology, efficacy and safety of EC-MPS.An understanding of the use of EC-MPS in solid organ transplantation and the key trials examining the GI impact of EC-MPS versus the immediate-release mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) formulation. The article also addresses the possible impact of proton pump inhibitor therapy, and the optimal MPA dose with different concomitant immunosuppressants.Evidence from blinded trials using standard reporting measures or patient-reported outcomes has not confirmed a significant improvement in the GI symptom burden using EC-MPS. Several open-label studies, however, have consistently shown an improvement in GI tolerability with EC-MPS, which can permit restoration of the optimal MPA dose. EC-MPS has equal efficacy and possibly a different tolerability profile to MMF, thus offering a choice to physicians and their patients, particularly those experiencing MMF-related GI symptoms, diabetic patients or those in whom an MPA dose reduction is required.
Treatment Outcome, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Humans, Tablets, Enteric-Coated, Drug Monitoring, Enzyme Inhibitors, Mycophenolic Acid, Kidney Transplantation, Immunosuppressive Agents, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Treatment Outcome, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Humans, Tablets, Enteric-Coated, Drug Monitoring, Enzyme Inhibitors, Mycophenolic Acid, Kidney Transplantation, Immunosuppressive Agents, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
| citations This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 42 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
