[Changes in indices of inflammatory activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis during early stages of basic therapy with leflunomide].
OBJECTIVE
To assess leflunomide efficacy and tolerance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during the first four months of the treatment.


METHODS
The study included 200 RA patients treated in four Moscow clinical centers. Leflunomide was given in a dose of 100 mg/day for 3 days, then 20 mg/day for 16 weeks. The activity of the disease according to the criterion DAS 28 was assessed before the treatment and 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks after the treatment start.


RESULTS
RA activity diminished considerably after one month of leflunomide treatment. Later, the articular syndrome continued to improve. A significant improvement by DAS 28 was observed after 16 weeks of the treatment in 65% (129 of 200) patients, high RA activity persisted only in 17 of 90 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Leflunomide reduces articular inflammation and raises RA patients' quality of life at early stages of the treatment. This reduction continued for 4 months of the study. Therefore, adequate assessment of leflunomide efficacy should be made only after 4-6 months of therapy.
Balabanova
R M
RM
Makolkin
V I
VI
Shostak
N A
NA
Chichasova
N V
NV
Oliunin
Iu A
IuA
Goriachev
D V
DV
Loginova
T K
TK
Riabkova
A A
AA
Petukhova
N V
NV
Men'shikova
I V
IV
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077339:Leflunomide; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007555:Isoxazoles; D000077339:Leflunomide