Research article
Effects of cyclophosphamide on pulmonary function in patients with scleroderma and interstitial lung disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and observational prospective cohort studies
1 Division of Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
2 Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
3 Division of Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
4 Medical Library, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
Arthritis Research & Therapy 2008, 10:R124 doi:10.1186/ar2534
See related editorial by Miniati et al., http://arthritis-research.com/content/11/1/103
Published: 20 October 2008Abstract
Introduction
The purpose of the present study was to systematically review the effect of cyclophosphamide treatment on pulmonary function in patients with systemic sclerosis and interstitial lung disease.
Methods
The primary outcomes were the mean change in forced vital capacity and in diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide after 12 months of therapy in patients treated with cyclophosphamide.
Results
Three randomized clinical trials and six prospective observational studies were included for analysis. In the pooled analysis, the forced vital capacity and the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide predicted values after 12 months of therapy were essentially unchanged, with mean changes of 2.83% (95% confidence interval = 0.35 to 5.31) and 4.56% (95% confidence interval = -0.21 to 9.33), respectively.
Conclusions
Cyclophosphamide treatment in patients with systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease does not result in clinically significant improvement of pulmonary function.
