Safety and efficacy of Methotrexate Monotherapy Vs Methotrexate Plus Leflunomide Combination Therapy in Early Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
MTX has long been considered as the anchor drug in RA treatment, however given, its high failure rate and the multifactorial nature of the disease, there has been a great interest in developing more powerful and tolerable MTX combination therapies. Leflunomide has long been appreciated to be a suita...
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Society of Turaz Bilim
2016-03-01
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| Series: | Medicine Science |
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| Online Access: | http://www.ejmanager.com/fulltextpdf.php?mno=196909 |
| _version_ | 1797328266221060096 |
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| author | Mariane S. Boshra Amira S Ahmed Heba F. Salem Mohamed N. Abd El Hamid |
| author_facet | Mariane S. Boshra Amira S Ahmed Heba F. Salem Mohamed N. Abd El Hamid |
| author_sort | Mariane S. Boshra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | MTX has long been considered as the anchor drug in RA treatment, however given, its high failure rate and the multifactorial nature of the disease, there has been a great interest in developing more powerful and tolerable MTX combination therapies. Leflunomide has long been appreciated to be a suitable alternative therapy used on its own or with MTX due to its equivalent efficacy and structural similarity. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety of a combination therapy of MTX plus LEF to MTX alone when used with early active rheumatoid arthritis patients. Fifty female patients with early active RA were randomly allotted in two groups each of 25. Patients were randomized to receive MTX or MTX+LEF. Analysis of DAS28 score, complete blood picture, and liver enzymes at the start and post 24 weeks of treatment with study regimens was performed, compared and evaluated. MTX+LEF combination therapy was more significantly beneficial in decreasing DAS28 score compared to MTX alone. The combination therapy showed less effect on blood components, but was more hepatotoxic compared to MTX monotherapy. The combination therapy is a more attractive option to consider especially in early active RA patients than MTX monotherapy. It is more clinically beneficial in improving disease outcomes, well tolerated, with less hematological toxicity and only showed mild hepatotoxicity. Taken into consideration proper monitoring of liver toxicity, this combination is safe and more effectively intervene early in the disease process thus preventing future possible complications and aiming better remission. [Med-Science 2016; 5(1.000): 117-33] |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:48:22Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2147-0634 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:48:22Z |
| publishDate | 2016-03-01 |
| publisher | Society of Turaz Bilim |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-9ea0489a506740318dc6d45160bef0a92024-02-03T07:28:56ZengSociety of Turaz BilimMedicine Science2147-06342016-03-01511173310.5455/medscience.2015.04.8350196909Safety and efficacy of Methotrexate Monotherapy Vs Methotrexate Plus Leflunomide Combination Therapy in Early Active Rheumatoid Arthritis PatientsMariane S. Boshra0Amira S Ahmed1Heba F. Salem2Mohamed N. Abd El Hamid3Clinical Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Benisuef University, Beni-suef, Egypt Clinical Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Benisuef University, Beni-suef, Egypt Pharmaceutics and IndustrialDepartment, Faculty of Pharmacy, Benisuef University, Beni-suef, Egypt Internal Medicine and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, EgyptMTX has long been considered as the anchor drug in RA treatment, however given, its high failure rate and the multifactorial nature of the disease, there has been a great interest in developing more powerful and tolerable MTX combination therapies. Leflunomide has long been appreciated to be a suitable alternative therapy used on its own or with MTX due to its equivalent efficacy and structural similarity. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety of a combination therapy of MTX plus LEF to MTX alone when used with early active rheumatoid arthritis patients. Fifty female patients with early active RA were randomly allotted in two groups each of 25. Patients were randomized to receive MTX or MTX+LEF. Analysis of DAS28 score, complete blood picture, and liver enzymes at the start and post 24 weeks of treatment with study regimens was performed, compared and evaluated. MTX+LEF combination therapy was more significantly beneficial in decreasing DAS28 score compared to MTX alone. The combination therapy showed less effect on blood components, but was more hepatotoxic compared to MTX monotherapy. The combination therapy is a more attractive option to consider especially in early active RA patients than MTX monotherapy. It is more clinically beneficial in improving disease outcomes, well tolerated, with less hematological toxicity and only showed mild hepatotoxicity. Taken into consideration proper monitoring of liver toxicity, this combination is safe and more effectively intervene early in the disease process thus preventing future possible complications and aiming better remission. [Med-Science 2016; 5(1.000): 117-33]http://www.ejmanager.com/fulltextpdf.php?mno=196909rheumatoidmethotrexateleflunomideliver enzymesdas28 |
| spellingShingle | Mariane S. Boshra Amira S Ahmed Heba F. Salem Mohamed N. Abd El Hamid Safety and efficacy of Methotrexate Monotherapy Vs Methotrexate Plus Leflunomide Combination Therapy in Early Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Medicine Science rheumatoid methotrexate leflunomide liver enzymes das28 |
| title | Safety and efficacy of Methotrexate Monotherapy Vs Methotrexate Plus Leflunomide Combination Therapy in Early Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients |
| title_full | Safety and efficacy of Methotrexate Monotherapy Vs Methotrexate Plus Leflunomide Combination Therapy in Early Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients |
| title_fullStr | Safety and efficacy of Methotrexate Monotherapy Vs Methotrexate Plus Leflunomide Combination Therapy in Early Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Safety and efficacy of Methotrexate Monotherapy Vs Methotrexate Plus Leflunomide Combination Therapy in Early Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients |
| title_short | Safety and efficacy of Methotrexate Monotherapy Vs Methotrexate Plus Leflunomide Combination Therapy in Early Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients |
| title_sort | safety and efficacy of methotrexate monotherapy vs methotrexate plus leflunomide combination therapy in early active rheumatoid arthritis patients |
| topic | rheumatoid methotrexate leflunomide liver enzymes das28 |
| url | http://www.ejmanager.com/fulltextpdf.php?mno=196909 |
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