Ovarian function can be preserved and disease activity
controlled in women with severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) when treated with a 6-
month course of cyclophosphamide (CYC), a chemotherapy drug, followed by the
immunosuppressant mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), according to a new study presented at
EULAR 2008, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Paris,
France.
SLE, a complex and unpredictable autoimmune disease, is characterised by chronic inflammation
and damage of body tissues, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and/or nervous system. It
is most common in women and, although long-term survival has dramatically improved over time
with better diagnosis and treatment options, one of the challenges in managing the disease is to
minimise the side-effects of treatments such as the disruption of ovarian function and risks to
fertility. Pulsed intravenous CYC, a chemotherapeutic agent, is a standard therapy for SLE but
may also be associated with ovarian failure in addition to other adverse effects.
Dr Katerina Laskari, the presenting author of the study, led by Professor Athanasios G Tzioufas in
the Department of Pathophysiology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, said:
"Although the prognosis for people with SLE has considerably improved over the years, a
patient's quality of life can all too often be seriously impaired by the toxicity of many commonly-
used treatments. Preserving ovarian function is a very important consideration in treating women
with SLE of child-bearing age, who are already burdened by the difficult nature and impact of the
disease itself."
In this retrospective evaluation of 61 postmenopausal women with SLE treated for lupus nephritis
(n=58), autoimmune hemolytic anemia (n=1) and central nervous system involvement (n=2), 39 patients received prolonged treatment with 1g/m2 intravenous (IV) CYC pulses (group A) for a
median time of 24 months and 22 patients received 5-7 monthly 1g/m2 IV CYC pulses, followed
by 2g/day MMF for a median time of 32 months (group B).
Results showed that disease activity was equally controlled using either treatment regimen
(p=0.76 and p=0.31 for disease remission and relapse respectively), although patients in group A
had a 4-fold higher risk of developing amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) compared with
those in group B (p=0.001). 56% (n=22) of women in group A and 14% (n=3) in group B
developed amenorrhea, while sustained amenorrhea developed in 51% (n=20/39) of women in
group A vs 4% (n=1) in group B. 14% (3/22) of women in group A and 67% (2/3) in group B
resumed menstruation following cessation of therapy.
Age (p31 years developed
amenorrhea with the long course CYC treatment and 94% did not resume menses until the end of
follow up, whereas only 1 patient aged 45 years developed permanent amenorrhea with the short
course CYC treatment.
SLE disease duration and ECLAM (European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement) score
were not significantly different in terms of amenorrhea (p≥0.05).
About EULAR
The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) is the organisation which represents
the patient, health professional and scientific societies of rheumatology of all the European
nations.
The aims of EULAR are to reduce the burden of rheumatic diseases on the individual and
society and to improve the treatment, prevention and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal
diseases. To this end, EULAR fosters excellence in education and research in the field of
rheumatology. It promotes the translation of research advances into daily care and fights for
the recognition of the needs of people with musculoskeletal diseases by the governing bodies
in Europe.
Diseases of bones and joints, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis cause disability
in 4 - 5 % of the adult population and are predicted to rise as people live longer.
As new treatments emerge and cellular mechanisms are discovered, EULAR 2008 brings
together more than 12,000 experts - scientists, clinicians, healthcare workers, pharmaceutical
companies and patients - to share their knowledge in a global endeavour to challenge the
pain and disability caused by musculo-skeletal disorders.
Author:
Dr Katerina Laskari
To find out more information about the activities of EULAR, visit: eular