SHORT-TERM EFFECTIVENESS OF LEFLUNOMIDE IN THE TREATMENT OF ACTIVE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Objective: to measure the effectiveness of 6-month treatment with leflunomide in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. material and methods: this descriptive study was conducted in medical b unit, lady reading hospital peshawar from august 2008 to august 2009 and included 103 active rheumatoid arthritis patients who received leflunomide 20mg daily for 6 months. the primary effectiveness endpoint was a ~20% response according to the american college of rheumatology criteria 20 and disease activity score 28 response after 6 months. results: all the 103 selected patients were treated with leflunomide. the mean age was 56.12% ± 4.796 years. according to the disease activity score 28,46.6% of patients had a good response, 41.7% had a moderate response and 11.7% were non-responders. improvements in tender joint count were -8.63 ± 3.418 (from baseline of 15.74 ± 2.9), in swollen joint count were -4.26 ±3.058 (from baseline of 9.34 ± 2.383), erythrocyte sedimentation rate improves to 14.74± 11.527 from baseline of 60.58 ± 9.608 and physical global assessment improves to 17.38± 15.35 from baseline of 70.24 ± 7.933. the american college of rheumatology criteria 20 response criteria show improvement in 87.4% patients. treatment related adverse events were reported in 23.3% ofpatients. 17% of total patients discontinue the due to non compliance and side effects. conclusion: this 6-month study carried out under daily routine practice conditions showed a favorable treatment response for leflunomide in a dose of 20 mg daily in a typical sample of rheumatoid arthritis patients.