{blacktriangledown}Leflunomide for rheumatoid arthritis

doi:10.1136/dtb.2000.38752

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 2000;38:52-54; doi:10.1136/dtb.2000.38752

${blacktriangledown}$ Leflunomide for rheumatoid arthritis

Relevant BNF section: 10.1.3

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are given topatients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to prevent synovitis,slow destruction of articular cartilage and bone, preserve functionand control systemic manifestations of the disease. Recognitionthat irreversible joint damage often occurs early in RA hasled to much prompter use of DMARDs, with sulfasalazine or methotrexatecommonly considered the treatment of first choice.¹ ${blacktriangledown}$ Leflunomide(Arava - Aventis) is a new DMARD, licensed for the treatmentof adults with active RA. The manufacturer claims that leflunomidehas "comparable efficacy to methotrexate and sulphasalazine",with a "faster onset of action", and an "acceptable tolerabilityprofile". Here, we consider the place of leflunomide in themanagement of patients with RA.