RESEARCH - Arava or MTX can be used against RA along with TNF inhibitors

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Leflunomide or Methotrexate Can Be Used Against RA Along With TNF Inhibitors

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Nov 30 - Leflunomide is nearly as effective

as methotrexate when given for rheumatoid arthritis in combination

with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha inhibitors, researchers from

Germany report in the December ls of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Leflunomide is effective for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis,

the authors explain, but there has been no direct comparison of the

individual anti-TNF alpha agents in combination with methotrexate or

leflunomide.

Dr. A. Strangfeld from the German Rheumatism Research Center in Berlin

and colleagues analyzed registry data on 1769 patients with rheumatoid

arthritis to compare the effectiveness of a combination of TNF alpha

inhibitors with either methotrexate or leflunomide.

During the first 6 to 12 months of treatment, discontinuation rates of

a first anti-TNF alpha agent in combination with methotrexate or

leflunomide are nearly indistinguishable, the authors report, but in

the second and third years, combinations with leflunomide have

slightly (but not statistically) higher discontinuation rates than

those with methotrexate.

After 12 and 36 months, termination rates were 8.7% and 17.0%,

respectively, for methotrexate and 26.1% and 36.6%, respectively, for

leflunomide.

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Read the entire article here:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/713141

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