A drug commonly used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs may also be effective in treating some neuromuscular diseases. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine say the drug mycophenolate mofetil, also known as CellCept, effectively helps patients with neuromuscular diseases improve their condition. CellCept is an immunosuppressive drug. It is most often used in combination with other drugs to prevent the rejection of kidney, liver and heart after a transplant.
Neuromuscular diseases are conditions affecting muscles and the nervous system.
Researchers studied the effect of CellCept on patients with the neuromuscular diseases inflammatory myopathy, demyelinating neuropathy and myasthenia gravis. Patients were treated over a period of 12 months. Researchers say all 38 patients in the study tolerated the drug without major side effects. Twenty-four improved either in their function or in their ability to reduce their corticosteroid use. Researchers note the improvement was seen within five months of beginning treatment.