Ding CZ, Yao Y, Feng XB, Fang Y, Zhao C, Wang Y. Clinical analysis of chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with leflunomide and methotrexate combined with different dosages of glucocorticoid.
CURRENT THERAPEUTIC RESEARCH 2012;
73:123-33. [PMID:
24653514 PMCID:
PMC3954009 DOI:
10.1016/j.curtheres.2012.06.001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the safety of combined leflunomide (LEF), methotrexate (MTX), and glucocorticoid (GC) therapy, we investigated the adverse effects of such combination therapy in patients with early active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
METHODS
Two hundred sixty-six patients with RA who were receiving LEF and MTX therapy were randomly assigned to 3 groups, as follows: group 1 received no GC, group 2 received 7.5 mg prednisone, and group 3 received 15 mg prednisone. Adverse effects were analyzed using the χ(2) test at week 4 or the Fisher exact test at week 12.
RESULTS
Patients in group 1 had a higher incidence of skin rash, oral ulcers, leukopenia, and liver damage than did those in groups 2 and 3 (all, P ≤ 0.05). However, the rates of osteoporosis, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension in group 3 were statistically higher than in groups 1 and 2 (P ≤ 0.05).
CONCLUSION
In the treatment of RA, the incidence of skin rash, liver dysfunction, and oral ulcers may be decreased with combination therapy using LEF, MTX, and 7.5 mg prednisone, and blood pressure, blood glucose concentration, and bone density are not increased. Most important, 7.5 mg prednisone was synergistic with LEF and MTX, and such combination therapy could be a useful option as initial treatment of early active RA.
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