Study: Arava Plus Methotrexate Helps With Persistent Rheumatoid Arthritis

The addition of leflunomide (Arava) to treatment with methotrexate is beneficial to patients with persistent rheumatoid arthritis who do not respond to methotrexate alone, according to U.S. researchers.

The combination of treatments is generally well tolerated and can be used safely with appropriate liver enzyme and blood testing, according to the report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Leflunomide is a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug. Methotrexate is one of a series of drugs called immuno-suppressives.

Researchers studied the safety and effectiveness of leflunomide against that of a placebo when added to methotrexate in a 24-week trial. Patients in the study had persistently active rheumatoid arthritis that did not respond to at least six months of treatment with methotrexate.

At 24 weeks, 46.2 percent of patients given leflunomide showed improvement compared with 19.5 percent of those given a placebo.

Discontinuation rates were similar in both groups as were the overall incidences of side effects. Adverse effects were predominantly mild or moderate.

Other sources: Annals of Internal Medicine