Mycophenolate mofetil in the treatment of severe skin manifestations of dermatomyositis: a series of 4 cases.

Four cases with classic skin manifestations and histologic evidence of dermatomyositis are presented. No occult malignancies were found. After conventional therapy with corticosteroids, hydroxychloroquine and/or methotrexate proved to be limited by side effects or an inadequate clinical response, a therapeutic trial of mycophenolate mofetil was instituted. This relatively new drug, which inhibits lymphocyte proliferation, was effective [with a mean duration of treatment of 13 months (range 6-20)] at controlling cutaneous disease activity, resulting in a decrease of the steroid dose.