Addition Of Leflunomide (Arava) To Methotrexate May Be Beneficial In Rheumatoid Arthritis

[Guest guest]

Addition Of Leflunomide (Arava) To Methotrexate May Be Beneficial In

Rheumatoid Arthritis

WESTPORT, Jul 21 (Reuters Health) - Adjunctive leflunomide may benefit

patients with rheumatoid arthritis whose disease remains active despite

long-term methotrexate therapy, according to the results of an open-label

study. Dr. E. Weinblatt, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston,

Massachusetts, and a multicenter group treated 30 such patients with

leflunomide, 10 to 20 mg/day, in addition to continuing methotrexate at a

mean dosage of 17 mg/week. Of the 23 patients who completed 1 year of

combination treatment, 16 patients met American College of Rheumatology

(ACR) criteria for response and two patients met ACR criteria for remission,

Dr. Weinblatt's group observed. The investigators report in the July issue

of Arthritis & Rheumatism that, overall, combination therapy " ...appeared to

be reasonably well tolerated, " except for " ...mild-to-moderate

gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms and abnormalities on liver

function tests. " Three patients stopped treatment with leflunomide because

of persistently elevated plasma transaminase levels. " Because the overall

risk of serious liver damage when methotrexate and leflunomide are used

together is unknown, careful dose titration and patient monitoring will be

necessary, " the investigators caution. They report that a randomized trial

of the combination regimen is under way.

Arthritis Rheum 1999;42:1322-1328. Copyright 1999 Reuters Limited.

[Guest guest]

Interesting article, a. I keep hearing that the body develops a

tolerance to mtx and thus the need for additional meds tosupplement

treatment. I have been on mtx injections for about a year along with

several other meds, duragesic patches, plaquenil, folic acid to name a few,

and have usually felt much better...a few minor flareups...however, recently

my feet are swelling and painful as are my hands and neck...is this a sign I

need to seriously consider the rem my rheummy is suggesting? Marge

[ ] Addition Of Leflunomide (Arava) To Methotrexate May Be

Beneficial In Rheumatoid Arthritis

> Addition Of Leflunomide (Arava) To Methotrexate May Be Beneficial In

> Rheumatoid Arthritis

>

> WESTPORT, Jul 21 (Reuters Health) - Adjunctive leflunomide may benefit

> patients with rheumatoid arthritis whose disease remains active despite

> long-term methotrexate therapy, according to the results of an open-label

> study. Dr. E. Weinblatt, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in

Boston,

> Massachusetts, and a multicenter group treated 30 such patients with

> leflunomide, 10 to 20 mg/day, in addition to continuing methotrexate at a

> mean dosage of 17 mg/week. Of the 23 patients who completed 1 year of

> combination treatment, 16 patients met American College of Rheumatology

> (ACR) criteria for response and two patients met ACR criteria for

remission,

> Dr. Weinblatt's group observed. The investigators report in the July issue

> of Arthritis & Rheumatism that, overall, combination therapy " ...appeared

to

> be reasonably well tolerated, " except for " ...mild-to-moderate

> gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms and abnormalities on liver

> function tests. " Three patients stopped treatment with leflunomide because

> of persistently elevated plasma transaminase levels. " Because the overall

> risk of serious liver damage when methotrexate and leflunomide are used

> together is unknown, careful dose titration and patient monitoring will be

> necessary, " the investigators caution. They report that a randomized trial

> of the combination regimen is under way.

>

> Arthritis Rheum 1999;42:1322-1328. Copyright 1999 Reuters Limited.

>

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