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COMMENTS AND OPINIONS
Rheumatoid Arthritis Interstitial Lung Disease: Mycophenolate Mofetil as an Antifibrotic and Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug
Lesley Ann Saketkoo, MD, MPH;
Luis R. Espinoza, MD
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We applaud the National Institutes of Health for funding this important study by Gochuico et al.1 Continued research is crucial for gaining insight into the natural history of interstitial lung disease (ILD) related to connective tissue diseases (CTDs). Assessment and response criteria are profoundly lacking, making it very challenging to develop and gauge effective targeted therapy. In addition, only investigative attention to screening will be able to reveal whether drug-associated CTD-ILD (eg, biological agents, methotrexate) are the primary culprits or triggers exacerbating preexisting subclinical ILD. Among CTDs, the prevalence of occult ILD may be greater than 30%.2-3 Early detection and treatment is imperative.
We report our experience with 4 patients with systemic sclerosis ILD, 2 with polymyositis ILD, 1 with Sjögren ILD, and 3 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-ILD,4 all of whom were treated with mycophenolate mofetil, with 9 patients receiving mycophenolate . . . [Full Text of this Article] AUTHOR INFORMATION
RELATED ARTICLE
Progressive Preclinical Interstitial Lung Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Bernadette R. Gochuico, Nilo A. Avila, Catherine K. Chow, Levi J. Novero, Hai-Ping Wu, Ping Ren, Sandra D. MacDonald, William D. Travis, Mario P. Stylianou, and Ivan O. Rosas
Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(2):159-166.
ABSTRACT
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