The medication mycophenolate mofetil is effective for managing symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common type of lupus, for patients whose SLE does not affect the kidneys, according to Mayo Clinic investigators. Importantly, the researchers say the drug was well tolerated and has fewer side effects than many other medications used to treat the disease.

"This would be considered a nice addition to medications we can use for these patients - an alternative and widely applicable to many patients," says Kevin Moder, Mayo Clinic rheumatologist.

Patients who have SLE, an autoimmune, inflammatory disease, may experience symptoms from fevers to joint pain to excessive fatigue to hair loss, among others. The disease also may affect major organs, and the kidneys are especially vulnerable. SLE affecting the kidneys is treated differently from non-renal SLE. Mycophenolate mofetil has been shown to be helpful in patients with lupus affecting the kidneys. The new Mayo Clinic research indicates, however, that the drug could help many more lupus patients, the release from Mayo clinic said.

Currently, there is no curative treatment for SLE. Also, many medications used to treat this disease have considerable side effects. "It's a significant step if the medication is effective but has fewer side effects than many medications currently used to treat lupus," says Dr. Moder.

Dr. Moder explains that while mycophenolate mofetil helps many patients, it's not 100 per cent effective. He describes the drug, however, as "very well received" by patients on his study. "Mycophenolate mofetil was very well tolerated and has very few side effects," he says.

The Mayo Clinic investigators undertook this trial because mycophenolate mofetil had proven effective for treatment of SLE affecting the kidneys, and the drug appeared promising for SLE that does not affect the kidneys in animal models and early human studies.