Short-term effectiveness of leflunomide in the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis

ABSTRACT

To measure the effectiveness of 6-month treatment with Leflunomide in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. This descriptive study was conducted in Medical B Unit, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from August 2008 to August 2009 and included 103 active Rheumatoid Arthritis patients who received Leflunomide 20mg daily for 6 months. The primary effectiveness endpoint was a >/= 20% response according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria 20 and disease activity score 28 response after 6 months. All the 103 selected patients were treated with Leflunomide. The mean age was 56.12% +/- 4.796 years. According to the disease activity score 28, 46.6% of patients had a good response, 41.7% had a moderate response and 11.7% were non-responders. Improvements in tender joint count were-8.63 +/- 3.418 [from baseline of 15.74 +/- 2.9], in swollen joint count were-4.26 +/- 3.058 [from baseline of 9.34 +/- 2.383], Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate improves to 14.74 +/- 11.527 from baseline of 60.58 +/- 9.608 and physical global assessment improves to 17.38 +/- 15.35 from baseline of 70.24 +/- 7.933. The American College of Rheumatology criteria 20 response criteria show improvement in 87.4% patients. Treatment related adverse events were reported in 23.3% of patients. 17% of total patients discontinue the due to non compliance and side effects. This 6-month study carried out under daily routine practice conditions showed a favorable treatment response for Leflunomide in a dose of 20 mg daily in a typical sample of Rheumatoid Arthritis patients