Inflammation Again Following Remission while on Cellcept in 2008 Posts Forum

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Inflammation Again Following Remission while on Cellcept

Author	Comment
ccrtn	Inflammation Again Following Remission while on Cellcept	Lead	[-]
Posts: 4 (08/06/08 11:20) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Dr. Foster, My daughter has been off Cellcept for 2 months following almost 2 years of no inflammation while on it. She went for a recheck this week and there is 1+ cells in the front of her right eye. Her doctor was "shocked and disappointed" that the inflammation was back and not quite sure what to do next. He prescribed Pred Forte 4x per day for one month and then recheck before trying something else. Considering that she used multiple drops for almost 3 years before going on Cellcept, I'm a little worried that the inflammation will come back full force. He mentioned the possibility of a steriod implant, but I'm wondering if she should go back on Cellcept for a bit longer. The time she took it has been the only time without any inflammation since she was first diagnosed five years ago. I know it's not acceptable to stay on meds forever, but considering the vision loss that she already has, I don't want to take any chances. We're all frustrated and scared. What would you suggest?
fostercs		#1	[-]
Posts: 664 (08/06/08 04:42) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	What to do is different for different people. There is no drug that cures everyone. It is disappointing that CellCept did not cure her, but that's no reason to throw up hands and surrender to the beast and resort to "steroids only" approach again. We move along to something else if one medication does not cure a patient. Or, if the patient did well and tolerated a med well and wants to return to it, we do not argue about that either. Without knowing the details of the case and of your daughter's particular situation, I cannot opine on what I would recommend next if she were to want to do something else rather than to return to the CellCept. But what I absolutely would not do is to simply resort to steroid therapy, implant or otherwise. Stephen Foster C. Stephen Foster, MD, FACS, FACR
ccrtn		#2	[-]
Posts: 5 (08/07/08 01:36) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I talked with her rheumatologist and she thinks she should go back on 1 gm. of Cellcept per day to see if that low dose will clear things up. I'm going to tell the doctor that this is what we want to do. She was on 2 gr. per day for 16 months before weaning off over a 5 month period. I think she should have stayed on it longer. Has being off it for 2 months put us back at the beginning or can she take it for another 8 months or so and try to wean again? What is your thinking on this. I respect your opinion and use your insight to guide our decisions. Thanks!
fostercs		#3	[-]
Posts: 666 (08/07/08 02:07) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	You probably should consider yourself as being back at the beginning. csf C. Stephen Foster, MD, FACS, FACR
ccrtn		#4	[-]
Posts: 6 (08/07/08 04:29) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	From you experience, does this treatment work or would we better trying another medicine to see if it will make it go away forever? Is it ok to take Cellcept for years? The possible long term side effects are pretty scary. Thanks!
fostercs		#5	[-]
Posts: 667 (08/07/08 04:54) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The depth of the conversation now gets to the point that I must personally examine the patient in order to render an opinion. Stephen Foster C. Stephen Foster, MD, FACS, FACR

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