• proportion of patients who are experiencing at least minor GI symptoms under MMF-based immunosuppressive therapy; week 0, 6-8 weeks, and 6-12 weeks (optional follow-up visit) [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• changes in health related quality of life, and impact of immunosuppressive-induced GI symptoms; week 0, 6-8 weeks, and 6-12 weeks (optional follow-up visit) [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• therapeutic efficacy; week 0, 6-8 weeks, and 6-12 weeks (optional follow-up visit) [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• identification of specific indications within the broad range of autoimmune diseases in which patients profit most from conversion to enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium; week 0, 6-8 weeks, 6-12 weeks (optional follow-up visit) [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

• proportion of patients who are experiencing at least minor GI symptoms under MMF-based immunosuppressive therapy; week 0, 6-8 weeks, and 6-12 weeks (optional follow-up visit)
• changes in health related quality of life, and impact of immunosuppressive-induced GI symptoms; week 0, 6-8 weeks, and 6-12 weeks (optional follow-up visit)
• therapeutic efficacy; week 0, 6-8 weeks, and 6-12 weeks (optional follow-up visit)
• identification of specific indications within the broad range of autoimmune diseases in which patients profit most from conversion to enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium; week 0, 6-8 weeks, 6-12 weeks (optional follow-up visit)

Treatment with the immunosuppressive drug mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) may result in gastrointestinal (GI) complications in some patients. This study will 1) determine the proportion of patients with autoimmune diseases who are experiencing any GI complaints under MMF-based immunosuppressive treatment and 2) assess if a switch from MMF to enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) results in improved GI and/or health-related quality of life outcomes.

Inclusion criteria Patients

1. with autoimmune diseases;
2. receiving immunosuppressive therapy that includes MMF at time of study enrollment;
3. receiving immunosuppressive regimen that includes MMF at a stable dose for at least 1 month prior to enrollment. Patients can only be enrolled into the study if it is expected that treatment will continue at the same dose until study end (6-8 weeks after enrollment).

Exclusion criteria

1. If applicable, GI symptoms assumed or known not to be caused by Mycophenolic acid (MPA) therapy (e.g. oral biphosphonates induced, infectious diarrhea);
2. Women of child-bearing potential who are planning to become pregnant or are pregnant and/or lactating or who are unwilling to use effective means of contraception;
3. Presence of psychiatric illness (i.e., schizophrenia, major depression) that, in the opinion of the site investigator, would interfere with study requirements;
4. Current acute medical intervention or hospitalization;
5. Presence of a medical condition not related to a GI event at time of visit, which requires immediate medical intervention.

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply