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Lin X, Meng X, Lin J. The Role of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Psoriasis. J Cutan Med Surg 2024; 28:276-286. [PMID: 38497283 DOI: 10.1177/12034754241239050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of psoriasis is complex. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor that can be bound and activated by structurally diverse ligands and plays an important role in a range of biological processes and in the pathogenesis of different diseases. Recently, the role of AhR in psoriasis has attracted attention. AhR has toxicological functions and physiological functions. The overexpression and activation of AhR induced by the environmental pollutant and exogenous AhR agonist 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) can drive the development of psoriasis. This TCDD-mediated toxicological response disrupts the physiological functions of AhR resulting in skin barrier disorders and the release of inflammatory cytokines, 2 of the pivotal factors of psoriasis. In addition, highly upregulated kynureninase in psoriasis decreases endogenous AhR agonists, thereby weakening the physiological functions of AhR. Activating AhR physiological signalling should be useful in the treatment of psoriasis. Studies have demonstrated that physiological activation of AhR can dampen the severity of psoriasis. The oldest and effective treatment for psoriasis coal tar works by activating AhR, and both new anti-psoriasis drugs tapinarof and benvitimod are formulations of AhR agonist, supporting that activation of AhR can be used as a new strategy for the treatment of psoriasis. Preclinical and preliminary clinical studies have revealed the anti-psoriasis effects of a number of AhR agonists, providing potential candidates for the development of new drugs for the treatment of psoriasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiran Lin
- Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xianmin Meng
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Axia Women's Health, Oaks, PA, USA
| | - Jingrong Lin
- Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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Torosian K, Lal E, Kavanaugh A, Loomba R, Ajmera V, Guma M. Psoriatic disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease shared pathogenesis review. Semin Arthritis Rheum 2023; 59:152165. [PMID: 36716599 PMCID: PMC9992353 DOI: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2023.152165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Psoriatic disease (PD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) potentially share disease pathways given the numerous inflammatory pathways involved in both diseases and a higher prevalence of NAFLD in PD patients. Metabolic syndrome and obesity are a key link between the two diseases, but even when controlling for this, associations between both diseases are still seen. Therapeutics that impact metabolic or inflammatory pathways may be impactful in both PD and NAFLD. In this review, we describe common inflammatory pathways contributing to both PD and NAFLD and critically review the potential impact of treatments for and on both diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Torosian
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Esha Lal
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Arthur Kavanaugh
- Department of Rheumatology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Rohit Loomba
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; NAFLD Research Center, Department of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, USA; Division of Epidemiology, Department of Family and Preventative Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | - Veeral Ajmera
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; NAFLD Research Center, Department of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, USA.
| | - Monica Guma
- Department of Rheumatology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Plaça Cívica, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; San Diego VA Healthcare Service, San Diego, CA, 92161, USA.
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3
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Konen FF, Möhn N, Witte T, Schefzyk M, Wiestler M, Lovric S, Hufendiek K, Schwenkenbecher P, Sühs KW, Friese MA, Klotz L, Pul R, Pawlitzki M, Hagin D, Kleinschnitz C, Meuth SG, Skripuletz T. Treatment of autoimmunity: The impact of disease-modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis and comorbid autoimmune disorders. Autoimmun Rev 2023; 22:103312. [PMID: 36924922 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2023.103312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
More than 10 disease-modifying therapies (DMT) are approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and new therapeutic options are on the horizon. Due to different underlying therapeutic mechanisms, a more individualized selection of DMTs in MS is possible, taking into account the patient's current situation. Therefore, concomitant treatment of various comorbid conditions, including autoimmune mediated disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, should be considered in MS patients. Because the pathomechanisms of autoimmunity partially overlap, DMT could also treat concomitant inflammatory diseases and simplify the patient's treatment. In contrast, the exacerbation and even new occurrence of several autoimmune diseases have been reported as a result of immunomodulatory treatment of MS. To simplify treatment and avoid disease exacerbation, knowledge of the beneficial and adverse effects of DMT in other autoimmune disorders is critical. Therefore, we conducted a literature search and described the beneficial and adverse effects of approved and currently studied DMT in a large number of comorbid autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, cutaneous disorders including psoriasis, Sjögren´s syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic vasculitis, autoimmune hepatitis, and ocular autoimmune disorders. Our review aims to facilitate the selection of an appropriate DMT in patients with MS and comorbid autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz Felix Konen
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany..
| | - Nora Möhn
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany..
| | - Torsten Witte
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany..
| | - Matthias Schefzyk
- Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venerology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany..
| | - Miriam Wiestler
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Svjetlana Lovric
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Karsten Hufendiek
- University Eye Hospital, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | | | - Kurt-Wolfram Sühs
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany..
| | - Manuel A Friese
- Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20251, Germany.
| | - Luisa Klotz
- Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany.
| | - Refik Pul
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Essen, Essen, Germany; Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, Essen 45147, Germany.
| | - Marc Pawlitzki
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany.
| | - David Hagin
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Medicine, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, University of Tel Aviv, 6 Weizmann St., Tel-Aviv 6423906, Israel.
| | - Christoph Kleinschnitz
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Essen, Essen, Germany; Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, Essen 45147, Germany.
| | - Sven G Meuth
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany.
| | - Thomas Skripuletz
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany..
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Zheng K, Chen Y, Liu S, He C, Yang Y, Wu D, Wang L, Li M, Zeng X, Zhang F. Leflunomide: Traditional immunosuppressant with concurrent antiviral effects. Int J Rheum Dis 2023; 26:195-209. [PMID: 36371788 DOI: 10.1111/1756-185x.14491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Leflunomide is a classic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug that is widely used to treat autoimmune diseases. Studies also show its antiviral effects in in vitro and/or in vivo experiments. Considering glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants and newly emerged antibodies commonly used in autoimmune diseases and autoinflammatory disorders bring risk of infection such as viral infection, leflunomide with combination of anti-viral and immunosuppressive features to maintain the balance between infection and anti-inflammation are attractive. Here we summarize the actions and mechanisms of leflunomide in immunoregulatory and antiviral effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunyu Zheng
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology; State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
| | - Yiran Chen
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology; State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
| | - Suying Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology; State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
| | - Chengmei He
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology; State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
| | - Yunjiao Yang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology; State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
| | - Di Wu
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology; State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology; State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
| | - Mengtao Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology; State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofeng Zeng
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology; State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
| | - Fengchun Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College; National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Ministry of Science & Technology; State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Ministry of Education, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), Beijing, China
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Xu Y, Shen D, Liu J, Xu X, Tu J, Qin L, Jiang L, Qian H, Guo F. Long non-coding RNAs as targets for immunosuppressive drug teriflunomide in anti-cancer potential for hepatocellular carcinoma. J Mol Histol 2020; 51:659-673. [PMID: 33034797 DOI: 10.1007/s10735-020-09912-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer. Because of the relatively chemotherapy-refractory nature of HCC and significant potential poor hepatic reserve, chemotherapy has not been used consistently in the treatment of HCC. Effective new drugs for HCC are urgently needed. Teriflunomide, which was approved for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), has been identified as a potential antineoplastic drug. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a novel class of RNA molecules defined as transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that lack protein coding potential. In this study, we investigated the ability of teriflunomide to act as an antineoplastic drug by examining the effects of teriflunomide treatment on HCC cells. Teriflunomide strongly inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells, induced cell apoptosis and induced cell accumulation in S phases of the cell cycle. LncRNA and mRNA expression profiles of HCC cells treated with teriflunomide compared with controls were performed by using microarray analysis. For comparison, the differentially expressed mRNAs were annotated by using gene ontology (GO) and pathway analyses. The microarray revealed that 2085 lncRNAs and 1561 mRNAs differed in the cells treated with teriflunomide compared with controls. Several GO terms including protein folding, mitochondrial outer membrane, transmembrane receptor protein phosphatase activity, negative regulation of cellular biosynthetic process, DNA packaging complex, and receptor signaling protein activity were enriched in gene lists, suggesting a potential correlation with the action mechanism of teriflunomide. Pathway analysis then demonstrated that JAK-STAT signaling pathway may play important roles in the cell apoptosis induced by teriflunomide. Co-expression network analysis indicated that a number of lncRNAs and mRNAs were included in the co-expression network, and p34710_v4 is the lncRNA with highest degree. Then the mRNAs associated with those differentially expressed lncRNAs were also annotated by using gene ontology (GO) and pathway analyses. The pathway analyses shows that teriflunomide significantly inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis partly by participating in Wnt signaling pathways. These findings suggest that teriflunomide could be a potential drug for chemotherapy and molecularly targeted therapies of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinkai Xu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 188, Shi Zi Road, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Daoming Shen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangcheng People's Hospital, Suzhou, 215131, China
| | - Jianxia Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 188, Shi Zi Road, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Xiaolan Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangcheng People's Hospital, Suzhou, 215131, China
| | - Junhao Tu
- Department of General surgery, Suzhou Wuzhong People's Hospital, Suzhou, 215128, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Qin
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 188, Shi Zi Road, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Liyang Jiang
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 242 Guangji Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Haixin Qian
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 188, Shi Zi Road, Suzhou, 215006, China.
| | - Fengbao Guo
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 188, Shi Zi Road, Suzhou, 215006, People's Republic of China.
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Abstract
The treatment of psoriasis has been revolutionized since the introduction of biologic therapies. Prior to their introduction, it was unclear if psoriasis was primarily a keratinocyte signaling dysfunction or an autoimmune T-cell mediated pathway. Nonspecific T-cell targeting treatments had been used with some success, but they were limited by a narrow therapeutic index. The nonspecific nature of these agents was fraught with side effects, and the efficacy of these treatments pales in comparison to current treatments. The initial biologic molecules, alefacept and efalizumab, were not specific for any T-cell driven pathway, and neither are currently available in the USA. The successors to these early therapies have shown high efficacy and low side effects in psoriasis and other autoimmune diseases through the specific targeting of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Since the initial use of antitumor necrosis factor agents, a renaissance in our understanding of psoriasis has been underway, leading to the elucidation of the T-helper 17 (Th17) from the Th1 pathway. With each new treatment, the pathogenesis for psoriasis continues to be more defined, allowing for improved targeted therapies and the ability to achieve new milestones in efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Henry K Wong
- College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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7
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Boyd AS. Leflunomide in dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol 2012; 66:673-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2011.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2011] [Revised: 08/23/2011] [Accepted: 08/26/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Hail N, Chen P, Kepa JJ, Bushman LR. Evidence supporting a role for dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, bioenergetics, and p53 in selective teriflunomide-induced apoptosis in transformed versus normal human keratinocytes. Apoptosis 2011; 17:258-68. [DOI: 10.1007/s10495-011-0667-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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10
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Boswell JS, Costner MI. Leflunomide as adjuvant treatment of dermatomyositis. J Am Acad Dermatol 2008; 58:403-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2007.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2004] [Revised: 08/07/2007] [Accepted: 08/09/2007] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Thielen AM, Barde C, Janer V, Borradori L, Saurat JH. Reiter syndrome triggered by adalimumab (Humira�) and leflunomide (Arava�) in a patient with ankylosing spondylarthropathy and Crohn disease. Br J Dermatol 2007; 156:188-9. [PMID: 17199598 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2006.07586.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Nash P, Thaçi D, Behrens F, Falk F, Kaltwasser JP. Leflunomide improves psoriasis in patients with psoriatic arthritis: an in-depth analysis of data from the TOPAS study. Dermatology 2006; 212:238-49. [PMID: 16549920 DOI: 10.1159/000091251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2005] [Accepted: 10/21/2005] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leflunomide has shown promise in the treatment of psoriasis. OBJECTIVE To provide an in-depth analysis of the effect of leflunomide on psoriasis in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS 190 patients with plaque psoriasis (at least 3% skin involvement) and active PsA were randomized to double-blind treatment with leflunomide (100 mg/day loading dose for 3 days followed by 20 mg/day orally) or placebo for 24 weeks. RESULTS As previously reported, leflunomide resulted in a significantly higher Psoriatic Arthritis Response Criteria response rate than placebo (58.9 vs. 29.7%; p < 0.0001). Significant differences in favor of leflunomide were also observed in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 50 in 30.4% of patients vs. 18.9% for placebo; p = 0.05), target lesion response (46.4 vs. 25.3%; p = 0.0048), combined skin and joint response (27.2 vs. 8.9%; p < 0.0001), Dermatology Life Quality Index (improvement of 1.9 points vs. 0.2; p = 0.0173) and certain SF-36 subdomains. Dermatological responses were observed at the earliest examination (4 weeks) and increased throughout the 24-week study. CONCLUSION Once-daily oral leflunomide is an effective and convenient treatment for PsA and plaque psoriasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Nash
- Nambour General Hospital and University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
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Abstract
Leflunomide (Arava, Aventis Pharmaceuticals) is an oral pyrimidine synthesis inhibitor with immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activity. This agent has demonstrated significant efficacy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis in randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. Both the efficacy and safety of leflunomide are maintained with long-term administration in patients with RA. Leflunomide compares favourably with other biological and non-biological agents used to treat RA in the incidence of adverse events and serious adverse events. Economic studies indicate that leflunomide is a cost-effective option in the treatment of RA. New investigations with leflunomide have focused mainly on combination regimens for the treatment of RA and the use of leflunomide in other inflammatory or autoimmune disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Peter Kaltwasser
- Abteilung Rheumatologie, Medizinische Klinik III, Zentrum der Inneren Medizin, J. W. Goethe-Universität, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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