Rheumatology International

, Volume 32, Issue 7, pp 2215–2219 | Cite as

Mycophenolate mofetil treatment in two children with severe polyarteritis nodosa refractory to immunosuppressant drugs

  • Falcini Fernanda
  • Capannini Serena
  • Russo Giustina
  • Battagliese Antonella
  • D’Amico Alessandra
  • Alessio Maria
Short Communication
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a necrotizing vasculitis of small- and medium-sized arteries with multiorgan involvement, rarely reported in childhood. Despite aggressive treatment with the combination of corticosteroids and cytotoxic agents, the overall prognosis is poor in most patients. We report on two siblings, now 15- and 14-year-old, affected with childhood onset PAN, refractory to multiple therapies, who showed rapid clinical and laboratory improvement when mycophenolate mofetil was introduced. The relationship between the administration of this immunosuppressant agent and the reduced disease activity is confirmed by the sustained absence of disease flares over 4 years of treatment.

Keywords

Polyarteritis nodosa Mycophenolate mofetil Childhood vasculitis 
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Notes

Conflict of interest

None.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  • Falcini Fernanda
    • 1
  • Capannini Serena
    • 1
  • Russo Giustina
    • 2
  • Battagliese Antonella
    • 2
  • D’Amico Alessandra
    • 3
  • Alessio Maria
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of BioMedicine, Rheumatology Section, Transition ClinicUniversity of FlorenceFlorenceItaly
  2. 2.Department of Paediatrics, Rheumatology UnitFederico II University of NaplesNaplesItaly
  3. 3.Department of NeuroscienceFederico II University of NaplesNaplesItaly

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