title: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis associated with leflunomide therapy.
abstract: Disease progression in rheumatoid arthritis is controlled with disease modifying drugs, many of which have toxic side effects. Pulmonary side effects are common and this has resulted in the development of newer medications with less pulmonary toxicity. We observed that even these newer drugs can be associated with potentially very serious pulmonary toxicity, with hypersensitivity pneumonitis developing after the initiation of leflunomide therapy. We urge caution in the use of leflunomide in patients with pulmonary side effects from other drugs or who have underlying pulmonary disease.
authors.affiliation: Western General Hospital and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. nmartin@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: J Alastair
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Innes
authors.forename: C Michael
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Colin M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Turnbull
authors.forename: William A H
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Wallace
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy; D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000077339:Leflunomide; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007555:Isoxazoles; D000077339:Leflunomide