title: The efficacy and safety of teriflunomide based therapy in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of teriflunomide in reducing the frequency of relapses and progression of physical disability in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). Literatures were searched in Pubmed, Medline and Embase to screen citations from January 1990 to April 2015. Studies of parallel group design comparing teriflunomide and placebo for RMS were screened. After independent review of 234 citations by two authors, seven studies were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria. The results showed teriflunomide (7 and 14mg) could significantly reduce annualized relapse rate and teriflunomide at the higher dose could also decrease the disability progression (risk ratio (RR)=0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.55-0.87). And teriflunomide significantly reduce annualized rates of relapses with sequelae-EDSS/FS, relapses leading to hospitalization, and relapses requiring IV corticosteroids. Patients treated with teriflunomide 14mg have a lower annualized rate of relapses with sequelae-investigator (RR=0.37, 95% CI: 0.26-0.52). Teriflunomide 7mg has a higher incidence of diarrhea (RR=1.73, 95% CI: 1.32-2.26) and hair thinning (RR=1.99, 95% CI: 1.4-2.81), while teriflunomide 14mg has a higher incidence of diarrhea (RR=1.71, 95% CI: 1.34-2.18), hair thinning (RR=2.81, 95% CI: 2.02-3.91) and nausea (RR=1.65, 95% CI: 1.03-2.31) compared with placebo. The incidence of elevated alanine aminotransferase levels was also higher with teriflunomide than with placebo. However, the incidence of serious adverse events was similar across groups. In conclusion, teriflunomide significantly reduces annualized relapse rates and disability progression with a similar safety and tolerability profile to placebo.
authors: Department of Neurology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1111 XianXia Road, Shanghai 200336, China.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Xu
authors: Department of Neurology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1111 XianXia Road, Shanghai 200336, China.
authors: Xuesheng
authors: X
authors: Lu
authors: Department of Neurology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizhaoju Road, Shanghai 200011, China. Electronic address: jingfangsh@126.com.
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Fang
authors: Department of Neurology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1111 XianXia Road, Shanghai 200336, China.
authors: Xiaoqi
authors: X
authors: Zhu
authors: Department of Neurology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1111 XianXia Road, Shanghai 200336, China.
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D003437:Crotonates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009570:Nitriles; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014052:Toluidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D003437:Crotonates; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D009570:Nitriles; D014052:Toluidines; C527525:teriflunomide
keywords: Meta-analysis; Multiple sclerosis; Randomized controlled trial; Teriflunomide