Clinical observation on effects of leflunomide OH rheumatoid arthritis / 中国基层医药

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the effect and safety of leflunomide(LEF)with those of methotrexate (MTX)in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods Ninty patients were randomly assigned to receive LEF or MTX.The patients in the treatment group(45 eases)received LEF 20mg/d,and those in the control group(45 cases)received MTX 15 mg/week,totally 24 weeks as a coutse of treatment.Results The total effective mtes of the treatment group and the control group were 93.3%and 91.1%respectively.There Was no significant difference between the two groups in the effectiveness(P＞0.05).The adverse reaction rate was 13.3%(6 cases)in the treatment group and 15.6%(7 cases)in the control group with no significant difference between the two groups (P＞0.05)But the adverse reactions were more tolerable in treatment group than these in control group.Conclusion This study suggests that LEF is an effective drug with minor adverse reactions for active rheumatoid arthritis.