Enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium as a corticosteroid-sparing agent for the treatment of autoimmune scleritis

Purpose: To evaluate enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) as a corticosteroid-sparing agent in the treatment of autoimmune scleritis. Methods: A retrospective, interventional, noncomparative review of EC-MPS use in patients with autoimmune scleritis. Results: Seven eyes of 5 patients (all female; median age: 47 years, range: 20-55 years) with inflammatory scleral disease were treated with EC-MPS. The mean follow-up duration was 16.4 months (range, 12-20 months). EC-MPS was started at 360 mg twice daily. The mean time to treatment success was 1.6 months (range, 1-3 months). The mean prednisolone dosage at the onset of EC-MPS was 24 mg daily (range, 15-30 mg), and this was reduced to 6.5 mg daily (range, 0-10 mg) as inflammation control was achieved. No severe adverse events except for 1 patient with transient knee pain were reported; the incidence of adverse events after using EC-MPS was 1/6.83 person-years. There was no recurrence of scleral inflammation during the follow-up period. Conclusions: EC-MPS can be used as a corticosteroid-sparing agent to safely suppress inflammatory autoimmune scleritis.