Study to Compare the Efficacy of Mycophenolate Mofetil in Systemic Sclerosis Related Early Interstitial Lung Disease

Lung involvement is the leading cause of death among patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Treatment with immunosuppression drugs helps in retarding the progression of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and improves the morbidity and mortality among these patients. Presently, cyclophosphamide has been shown to be useful in stabilizing the lung functions among patients of systemic sclerosis with ILD. But use of cyclophosphamide is also associated with many adverse effects including infections, cytopenias, gonadal dysfunction and malignancies. Use of oral mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in SSc-ILD in recent studies has been shown to be effective in retarding progression of ILD among these patients with a better side effect profile compared to cyclophosphamide. Contemporary expert opinion dictates that the treatment for SSc-ILD needs to be individualized. Generally, intense immunosuppression is required in patients with FVC <70% of the predicted. In patients with FVC >70% of the predicted, the need for high dose immunosuppression is not clear and varies from center-to-center. The present study is designed to determine the efficacy of oral MMF in patients with SSc related early ILD. The subjects in this study will be given either oral MMF or placebo and will be monitored for their response and adverse events. Informed consent will be taken from the subjects before including in the study.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients of systemic sclerosis with presence of interstitial lung disease on High Resolution Computer Tomography (HRCT) chest
• FVC ≥ 70% of predicted on pulmonary function tests
• Age ≥18 years
• Consenting for participating in study

Exclusion criteria

• Received immunosuppression (except low dose steroids, prednisolone equivalent ≤10 mg/day) for ILD in the last 3 years
• Persistent leucopenia or thrombocytopenia
• Pregnant or breastfeeding females
• Severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (mean pulmonary arterial pressure >55mmHg) requiring drug therapy
• Uncontrolled congestive heart failure
• Any other abnormalities noted on chest X-ray or HRCT other than ILD
• Active infection
• Inflammatory myositis
• Overlap syndrome
• Mixed connective tissue disease
• Other serious co-morbidities which could compromise patient's ability to complete the study