Efficacy and Safety of Enteric-coated Mycophenolate Sodium in Combination With Two Corticosteroid Regimens for the Treatment of Lupus Nephritis Flare

Complete remission was defined as urine protein/urine creatinine ratio < 0.5 gram urine protein per gram urine creatinine, urine sediment normalized (no cellular casts, < 5 red cells per high power field), and serum creatinine within 10% of normal value.

Partial remission was defined as urine protein/creatinine ratio reduced by at least 50% from baseline and stable serum creatinine within 10% of baseline value) or improved.

Corticosteroid use was measured as cumulative dose until 12 and 24 weeks of treatment as well as daily doses at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks.

A moderate to severe flare was defined as the occurrence of increased lupus activity after partial or complete remission, based on the presence of 1 BILAG A score or >=3 BILAG B scores. British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) index divides lupus activity in 8 organs/systems which are each given a score of A to E. A=disease sufficiently active to need disease modifying treatment; B=problems requiring symptomatic treatment; C=mild stable disease; D=previously affected but currently inactive system; E=the system or organ has never been involved. BILAG score: A=9, B=3, C=1, D/E=0; range(0-72)

The duration of exposure was calculated as the date of the last Mycophenolate sodium dose minus the date of the last Mycophenolate sodium dose +1.

Safety assessments included collecting all adverse events (AEs), serious adverse events (SAEs), with their severity and relationship to study drug. According to FDA 21CFR 314.80, a serious adverse event (SAE) is described as any adverse event that leads to death, is life threatening ( NIH criteria Grade 4), causes or prolongs hospitalization, results in a congenital anomaly, or any other important medical event not described above.

Treatment failure was defined as no therapeutic response (without complete or partial remission) or premature discontinuation during the first 24 weeks from study medication or the study for any reason except complete or partial remission.

SLEDAI stands for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index and was a well established global score index based on assessment of 24 items measuring a disease activity in the 10-day period prior to the assessment. SLEDAI item weights range from 1 for fever to 8 for seizures. A maximum theoretical score is 105. Total score range from 1 to 105. A flare has been defined as a SLEDAI score increase of 3 or more to a level of 8 or higher. During flares SLEDAI scores of 25 to 30 are common.

BILAG (British Isles Lupus Assessment Group) index divides lupus activity into 8 organs/systems and was based on the principle of the physician's intention to treat, assessing activity in the previous one month. Each organ or system was given a score of A to E, where A = disease that is sufficiently active to require disease modifying treatment; a B = problems requiring symptomatic treatment; C = stable mild disease; D = previously affected but currently inactive system; and E = the system or organ has never been involved. [A=9, B=3, C=1, D/E=0 the score range for each patient will be 0-72].