PMID: 18720690Aug 30, 2008Paper

Long-term safety of mycophenolate mofetil and cyclosporine: a review

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology : JDD
Catherine Buell, John Koo

Abstract

The prevailing notion in dermatology is that mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is safer than cyclosporine (CsA), but that CsA has greater efficacy. This literature review evaluates the available long-term safety data of MMF and CsA. Literature in the fields of dermatology, autoimmune disease, and transplantation were retrieved from PubMed. Data regarding immunosuppressive and non-immunosuppressive side effects of MMF and CsA are presented along with available pregnancy safety data. Surprisingly, there is a paucity of data on long-term MMF monotherapy. Transplant data is presented separately due to the concomitant use of other immunosuppressants along with MMF. Trends that can be identified include a less discernable cancer or end-organ damage risk in MMF compared to CsA. However, MMF appears to have a greater risk in pregnancy and increased reports of herpes simplex and zoster infection compared to CsA.

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