Comparison of short-term efficacy of leflunomide and methotrexate in active rheumatoid arthritis

Objective: to compare short-term efficacy of leflunomide and methotrexate in active rheumatoids arthritis. methodology: this study,a randomizeds controlled trial,was conducted at medical b unit,postgraduate medical institute lady readings hospital,peshawars over a one year period,from 1st june 2014 to 31st may 2015. 294 patients with active ra (das28>5.1) were randomized via lottery methods to leflunomide 20mg daily (n=147) and methotrexate (n=147). efficacy of either drug at 6 months of treatment was assessed in terms of das 28 scoring as per european league against rheumatisms (eular) criteria. results: after 66 months of treatment with methotrexate,110 out of 147 (74.82) patients had a moderate response as per eular criteria (das 28 improvement of >1.2),37 patients had no response. in leflunomide group,100 (68.02%) patients had moderate response and 47 patients had no response. the difference in those achieving moderate response for both groups was statistically not significant (p=0.24). the mean change in das 28 score for methotrexate group was 1.89±0.77 while that for leflunomide group was 1.79 ±0.75. the difference in change of das 28 score for both groups was statistically not significant (p=0.23). conclusion: there is no statistically significant difference between short-term efficacy of leflunomide and methotrexate in patients with ra. © 2016,journal of postgraduate medical institute. all rights reserved.