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.
They found 8 of the 12 patients improved two weeks to two months after beginning treatment. The study findings are reported in the most recent issue of Neurology .