Leflunomide for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
Corinne Miceli-Richard, Maxime Dougados

Abstract

Leflunomide (Arava), Aventis Pharmaceuticals) is an immunomodulating drug that interferes with the metabolism of pyrimidine by inhibiting dihydro-orotate dehydrogenase (DHO-DH) in mitochondria, thereby blocking T- and B cell proliferation. Antibody production is also affected by DHO-DH blockade. Other immunomodulatory effects of leflunomide have also been reported. Symptomatic and structural effects of leflunomide in active rheumatoid arthritis have been strictly evaluated by double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled studies that were aimed at validating its use in rheumatoid arthritis. Further trials are now required to confirm efficacy and safety of this drug in combination with other agents.

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Citations

Jan 1, 2014·Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery·Clemens WarnkeBernd C Kieseier
Oct 20, 2010·PloS One·Edmond F O'DonnellSiva Kumar Kolluri
Jun 7, 2005·Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy·J Peter Kaltwasser, Frank Behrens
Jun 14, 2005·Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·Tanya Doan, Elena Massarotti
Apr 9, 2010·International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases·Veera S KatikireddiCatherine L Hill
Aug 30, 2005·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·Stanley M Naguwa
Dec 2, 2005·Rheumatology·A HocevarM Tomsic
Jul 30, 2014·International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care·Nicolás González-VacarezzaAna Pérez
Jun 24, 2021·European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·Małgorzata ŁącznaAndrzej Pawlik
Apr 3, 2021·The Journal of Rheumatology·Johanna Karlsson SundbaumEva Baecklund

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