Function and health-related quality of life: Results from a randomized controlled trial of leflunomide versus methotrexate or placebo in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Significant improvements in function and health-related quality of life occurred in patients with RA during treatment with leflunomide or methotrexate. These findings were clinically meaningful and correlated with the ACR response status.

Efficacy and safety of leflunomide alone and in combination with methotrexate in the treatment of refractory rheumatoid arthritis

“…Efficacy ranging from 50 to 87% with monotherapy using various assessment criteria, have been observed in studies in different situations to date, irrespective of the absence of the loading dose. [5][6][7][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] Hematological and biochemical parameters showed no significant change. Few patients had liver enzyme elevation, though it did not reach significance and only one had to discontinue.…”

“…[5][6][7][11][12][13][14][15][16] though incidence of adverse events, especially hepatotoxicity, was high. [7,15,17,19] decrease in red, white and platelet cell counts, probably due to marrow toxicity.…”

Therapeutic effect of Yunnan Baiyao on rheumatoid arthritis was partially due to regulating arachidonic acid metabolism in osteoblasts

“…Group C consisted of 32 normal rats and they were treated as group Y did but the YNB was replaced with the same volume of physiological saline. Referred to clinical practice, the rats in group M received intragastric administration of 1 mL of 0.2 mg/mL MTX once every week [14]. For each group, every 8 rats were anaesthetized by ether on days 14, 21, 28 and 35.…”

Guidelines for the management of rheumatoid arthritis: 2002 Update

“…Several randomized controlled clinical trials have established leflunomide as an alternative to MTX as monotherapy, especially for patients who cannot tolerate MTX or are experiencing an inadequate response to MTX (62,63,75,(86)(87)(88)(89). The reduction in RA disease activity and in the rate of radiologic progression achieved by leflunomide appears to be equivalent to that of a modest dosage of MTX.…”