Avtor/Urednik		Larsen, Arvi; Kvien, Tore K; Schattenkirchner, Manfred; Rau, Rolf; Scott, David L; Smolen, Josef S; Rozman, Blaž; Westhovens, R; Tikly, Mohammed; Oed, Christine; Rosenburg, Ronald
Naslov		Slowing of disease progression in rheumatoid arthritis patients during long-term treatment with leflunomide or sulfasalazine
Tip		članek
Vir		Scand J Rheumatol
Vol. in št.		Letnik 30, št. 3
Leto izdaje		2001
Obseg		str. 135-42
Jezik		eng
Abstrakt		Radiographic disease progression with leflunomide and sulfasalazine treatment was assessed in rheumatoid arthritis patients in a doubleblind trial that was placebo controlled for the first 6 months. Completers at 6 months opted to continue on 12- and 24-month double-blind extensions; patients in the placebo group were switched to sulfasalazine. Changes in Larsen scores were assessed in evaluable patient cohorts at 6 (n=228), 12 (n=136), and 24 (n=65) months. Changes in Larsen scores and erosive joint counts with leflunomide and sulfasalazine at 6 months showed significantly less radiographic progression than placebo. Sustained retardation of radiographic progression was seen in the 24-month intent-to-treat cohorts (delta Larsen scores: leflunomide -0.07, sulfasalazine -0.03). Changes in erosive joint counts within the 24-month leflunomide cohort suggest halting of disease progression for patients who continued in the study for 2 years (leflunomide -0.92, sulfasalazine 0.80). Letlunomide was well tolerated with no unexpected adverse events during the 2-year period. This study demonstrates that slowing of disease progression with leflunomide, observed as early as 6 months, is maintained long term in patients who complete 2 years of treatment.
Deskriptorji		ARTHRITIS, RHEUMATOID SULFASALAZINE DISEASE PROGRESSION RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS ANTIRHEUMATIC AGENTS DIHYDROOROTATE OXIDASE PYRIMIDINES MULTICENTER STUDIES