Mycophenolate mofetil monitoring

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Using this page · Individualise medicines monitoring

This medicines monitoring page has been written using publications and expert opinion. It is designed to save clinician time, but not replace professional responsibility. When using this page you should: ensure an individualised monitoring plan is developed in partnership with the patient and take account of any locally agreed advice and guidance.

Before starting

Required

  • Baseline
    • Pregnancy testtwo tests 8-10 days apart in women of child bearing potential; exclude before initiating
    • Albumin
    • ALT or AST
    • Blood pressure
    • Full blood count
    • Height
    • Liver function tests
    • Serum creatinine (for creatinine clearance) or Calculated glomerular filtration rate
    • Vaccination status
    • Weight

Vaccination status

Consider vaccination against pneumococcus and influenza prior to starting treatment.

After started or dose changed

Required

  • Every 2 weeks for minimum 6 weeks until dose stable; then 3 monthly
    • Albumin
    • ALT or AST
    • Full blood count
    • Serum creatinine (for creatinine clearance) or Calculated glomerular filtration rate

Ongoing once stable

Required

  • At least every 12 weeks
    • Albumin
    • ALT or AST
    • Full blood count
    • Serum creatinine (for creatinine clearance) or Calculated glomerular filtration rate

Abnormal results

Respond to absolute levels

Consider stopping treatment and contacting a specialist any of the following develop:

Blood pressure

  • BP greater than 140/90mmHg. Manage in accordance with hypertension guidelines.

Full blood count

  • WCC less than 3.5 x 109/L,
  • Neutrophils less than 1.6 x 109/L
  • Unexplained eosinophilia greater than 0.5x 10 9/L
  • Platelets less than 140 x 109/l
  • Unexplained fall in serum albumin less than 30g/L
  • MCV greater than 105f/L then check B12, folate, thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. If abnormal treat; if normal discuss with specialist team.

Liver function

  • AST or ALT increase to greater than 100units/L

Renal function

  • Creatinine increase greater than 30% above baseline over 12 months
  • Calculated GFR less than 60ml/min/1.73m2 (repeat in 1 week, if still more than 30% from baseline, withhold and discuss with specialist team)

Investigate if urinary protein

If urinary protein is at 2+ or more, a mid-stream urine sample should be taken, and:

  • if there is evidence of infection, this should be treated appropriately;
  • if the urine sample is sterile (no infection present) and the urinary protein 2+ or more persists on two consecutive measurements, stop mycophenolate mofetil and discuss with specialist team.

Notes

Advice to patients

Advise patients to seek urgent medical attention if they develop symptoms such as:

  • Skin or mucosal reaction (rash, pruritus, mouth or throat ulceration)
  • Sore throat
  • Fever
  • Unexplained bruising or bleeding
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or weight loss
  • Diffuse alopecia
  • Breathlessness, infection or cough
  • Peripheral neuropathy

Both male and female patients should be aware of the advice on conception and contraception

Bibliography

Update history

  1. Amended error in units for abnormal liver function tests
  1. Bibliography amended to include link to 'Specific medicine switches for solid dose and liquid formulations' which superseded 'Switching between liquid and tablet/capsule formulations – Which medicines require extra care? '
  1. Published

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