MONDAY, Oct. 18, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- Mayo Clinic researchers have found an effective treatment for non-renal lupus that produces minimal side effects.
The discovery was reported on Oct. 17 at the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
The scientists have found that a medication called mycophenolate mofetil manages symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of this autoimmune disease.
Most important, they found the drug worked for patients whose kidneys have not been affected by SLE.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration already has approved mycophenolate mofetil for use in SLE affecting the kidneys; these findings mean the drug could be used to help many more lupus patients.
People with SLE may experience symptoms ranging from fevers to joint pain to excessive fatigue to hair loss. The disease also may affect major organs, and the kidneys are especially vulnerable.
There is no cure for SLE, and many medications used to treat the disease have major side effects. One drug, cyclophosphamide, puts patients at risk for infertility and cancer, the researchers said.
"It's a significant step if the medication is effective but has fewer side effects," lead researcher Dr. Kevin Moder, a rheumatologist with the Mayo Clinic, said in a prepared statement.
Researchers will now study how the drug works when combined with other medications, Moder said.
More information
The National Institutes of Health has more about lupus.
