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Efficacy of leflunomide in the treatment of vasculitis.
- Source :
-
Clinical and experimental rheumatology [Clin Exp Rheumatol] 2021 Mar-Apr; Vol. 39 Suppl 129 (2), pp. 114-118. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Nov 10. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Objectives: Only a few small case series, case reports, and one small clinical trial suggested some benefit of leflunomide (LEF) in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis and other vasculitides. We analysed the clinical efficacy and tolerability of LEF in a large cohort of patients with various vasculitides.<br />Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients who received LEF for treatment of their vasculitis enrolled in the Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium (VCRC) Longitudinal Study and in 3 additional centres from the Canadian vasculitis research network (CanVasc).<br />Results: Data for 93 patients were analysed: 45 had granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), 8 microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), 12 eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), 14 giant-cell arteritis (GCA), 9 Takayasu's arteritis (TAK), and 5 polyarteritis nodosa (PAN). The main reason for initiation of LEF was active disease (89%). LEF was efficacious for remission induction or maintenance at 6 months for 62 (67%) patients (64% with GCA, 89% with TAK, 80% with PAN, 69% with GPA, 75% with MPA, 33% with EGPA); 20% discontinued LEF before achieving remission because of persistent disease activity. Overall, 22 adverse events (gastrointestinal symptoms being the most common) led to drug discontinuation in 18 (19%) patients, of which 12 stopped LEF before month 6, before showing any benefit in 8/12 of these patients.<br />Conclusions: Leflunomide can be an effective therapeutic option for various vasculitides, especially for non-severe refractory or relapsing ANCA-associated vasculitis or large-vessel vasculitis. No new safety signals for LEF were identified in this population.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0392-856X
- Volume :
- 39 Suppl 129
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Clinical and experimental rheumatology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 33200732
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.55563/clinexprheumatol/ve38dj