Improvement in gastrointestinal and health-related quality of life outcomes after conversion from mycophenolate mofetil to enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium in liver transplant recipients

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate improvement in gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in liver transplant recipients switched from mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) to enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS).

METHODS: A multicenter, open-label, single-arm study was undertaken in maintenance liver transplant recipients who reported GI complications with MMF therapy. The patients were switched to equimolar doses of EC-MPS at baseline. The primary end point was the change in the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) total score after 6 to 8 weeks of treatment with EC-MPS. Other key assessments for GI symptoms and HRQoL included the GSRS subscores, the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI), the Psychological General Well-Being Index, and the Overall Treatment Effect (OTE). Paired t-test was used to assess the difference in the mean score changes over time.

RESULTS: A total of 34 patients were enrolled and switched to equimolar doses of EC-MPS. After 6 to 8 weeks of EC-MPS treatment, mean GSRS total score improved significantly from 2.88 ± 0.66 to 2.10 ± 0.78. Mean improvement in GSRS total score (-0.77 score points; P = .001) exceeded the minimal clinically important difference. Significant improvements were observed in all GSRS subscales (P < .05), GIQLI total scores (P = .001), and GIQLI subscales "GI symptoms" (P < .001) and "physical function" (0.013). Patients who continued EC-MPS reported sustained benefits compared with patients who switched back to MMF after 6 to 8 weeks of treatment with EC-MPS. On the OTE scale, improvement in symptoms was reported in 76.5% and 61.8% of the patients as perceived by the physicians and the patients. Improvement in HRQoL was reported by 41.2% of the patients. No deaths, biopsy proven acute rejections, or graft losses were reported during the study.

CONCLUSION: Conversion from MMF to EC-MPS was associated with a significant improvement in GI symptoms and HRQoL in liver transplant recipients.