Pulmonary Involvement in Scleroderma: A Clinical Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Mycophenolate Mofetil in Scleroderma Patients With Lung Involvement

The proposed study is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept) for the treatment of symptomatic pulmonary alveolitis due to systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study utilizes a prospective, open-label, experimental design. Primary Hypothesis: The alveolitis in patients with SSc, as defined by decreased forced vital capacity (FVC), bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and High Resolution Chest Tomography (HRCT) is responsive to 1 year of daily mycophenolate mofetil therapy. Secondary Hypothesis: Quality of life, six-minute walk and single-breath diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) improve in patients with SSc mediated alveolitis after therapy with mycophenolate mofetil. This response to therapy is associated with a change in the inflammatory cytokine profile present in BAL fluid.