title: Efficacy at 52 weeks of daily clinical use of iguratimod in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In recent years, the use of one or more conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs has been recommended for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We performed a 52-week study on the efficacy and safety of iguratimod (IGU) against patients with RA in daily clinical use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one patients were enrolled in this study, and the clinical course of RA was regularly evaluated during the 52 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survival rate at week 52 was 53.7%. The disease activity score (DAS) 28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate, DAS28-C-reactive protein, simplified disease activity index, and clinical disease activity index were all significantly decreased at week 52. The matrix metalloproteinase-3 level was significantly decreased at week 52 by combination therapy of IGU and methotrexate. There were one case of the onset of interstitial pneumonia (IP), one exacerbation of IP, and one case of the onset of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IGU is effective for RA patients when used for daily clinical treatment for 52 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine , Maebashi, Gunma , Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yonemoto
authors.forename: Takahito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suto
authors.forename: Chisa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Okura
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takagishi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002867:Chromones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002867:Chromones; D013449:Sulfonamides; C519076:iguratimod; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; Iguratimod; Matrix metalloproteinase-3; Methotrexate; Rheumatoid arthritis