Iguratimod in combination with methotrexate in active rheumatoid arthritis : Therapeutic effects.
BACKGROUND
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a potentially destructive disease that may have a profound impact on patients' function and quality of life. RA therapy is still a challenge for rheumatologists; however, new antirheumatic drugs may be a treatment option for disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)-experienced patients with active RA.


OBJECTIVE
The present study is a prospective trial that aims to investigate the effects of therapy with iguratimod plus methotrexate (MTX) in comparison with iguratimod or MTX monotherapy in DMARD-experienced adult patients with active RA.


METHODS
A total of 131 patients (24 men, 107 women, mean age 46.63 ± 10.61 years) with a history of being treated with traditional DMARDs were investigated. In all, 44 patients were treated with iguratimod (25 mg, twice daily, orally) plus MTX (a weekly dose of 10 mg, orally), 38 patients received iguratimod (25 mg, twice daily, orally), or 49 patients received MTX (weekly dose of 10 mg, orally) for 24 weeks.


RESULTS
A therapeutic effect with iguratimod was observed between 4 and 10 weeks after treatment initiation and was effective even in patients who had a poor response to previous treatment with DMARDs. The combination of iguratimod with MTX was superior to iguratimod or MTX monotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The data imply that iguratimod is a welcome addition to the small-molecule drug therapy for DMARD-experienced patients with active RA. Iguratimod (alone or in combination with MTX) is an emerging option for the treatment of DMARD-experienced adult patients with active RA who have had an inadequate response to or are intolerant of other DMARDs.
Department of Rheumatology, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, 250012, Jinan, Shandong Province , China.
Z
Z
Xia
Department of Internal Medicine, Dezhou People's Hospital, Dezhou, China.
J
J
Lyu
Department of Rheumatology, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, 250012, Jinan, Shandong Province , China.
N
N
Hou
Department of Rheumatology, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, 250012, Jinan, Shandong Province , China.
L
L
Song
Department of Rheumatology, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, 250012, Jinan, Shandong Province , China.
X
X
Li
Department of Rheumatology, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, 250012, Jinan, Shandong Province , China. huaxiangliu@hotmail.com.
H
H
Liu
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002867:Chromones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D002867:Chromones; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013449:Sulfonamides; C519076:iguratimod; D008727:Methotrexate
Antirheumatic agents; Autoimmune diseases; Immunosuppressive agents; Quality of life; Treatment outcome