Mycophenolic acid agents: is enteric coating the answer?

ophenolic acid agents: is enteric coating the answer? Review (2162) Total Article Views Authors: Manitpisitkul W, Lee S, Cooper M Published Date March 2011 Volume 2011:3 Pages 45 - 53 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/TRRM.S12210 Wana Manitpisitkul1, Sabrina Lee2, Matthew Cooper3 1Department of Pharmacy, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA; 2Solid Organ Transplant Program, University of Utah Health Care, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; 3Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA Abstract: Addition of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) to calcineurin-based immunosuppressive therapy has led to a significant improvement in graft survival and reduction of acute rejection in renal transplant recipients. However, in clinical practice, MMF dose reduction, interruption, or discontinuation due to hematological and gastrointestinal (GI) side-effects occurred in up to 50% of the patients. Large retrospective analyses have demonstrated that patients requiring MMF dose manipulation due to adverse events experienced a higher rate of rejection and graft loss. Enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) was developed with the goal of improving upper GI side-effects. Here, we review the efficacy and safety of EC-MPS in de novo kidney transplant recipient, and in stable renal transplant patients who were converted from MMF. The changes in GI-related adverse events using patient-reported outcome instruments are also reviewed.