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Publication year
2004Source
Journal of Rheumatology Supplement, 71, 71, (2004), pp. 21-24ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

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Organization
Rheumatology
Journal title
Journal of Rheumatology Supplement
Volume
vol. 71
Issue
iss. 71
Page start
p. 21
Page end
p. 24
Subject
UMCN 4.2: Chronic inflammation and autoimmunityAbstract
The safety profile of leflunomide in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has been well documented in clinical trials, postmarketing surveillance, and epidemiological studies. Both postmarketing surveillance and epidemiological study results are consistent with the safety profile of leflunomide reported in clinical trials, and no increased risk was observed with leflunomide, compared with other disease modifying antirheumatic drugs; these studies have allowed a more precise representation of the incidence of adverse events occurring with leflunomide under normal conditions of care. The most common leflunomide-associated adverse events include diarrhea, elevated liver enzymes, alopecia, and rash. Ninety-five percent of the Expert Panel considered the adverse events associated with leflunomide to be manageable. If an adverse event required treatment to be stopped, many of the experts would consider subsequently restarting leflunomide. For minor adverse events, it was suggested that the physician might also consider using cholestyramine or charcoal to determine if the side effect is dose-related and, if it was, reduce the leflunomide dose accordingly. In addition to informing patients about the likelihood of side effects, it is important to emphasize that their incidence appears to diminish with continued treatment. It is also important to adequately support patients who are experiencing side effects and involve them in their disease management, for example, by offering the choice of reducing the leflunomide dose and/or having symptomatic treatment. Other patient management recommendations in this review reflect the views of the majority of participants as expressed in the meeting.
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- Academic publications [202563]
- Electronic publications [100732]
- Faculty of Medical Sciences [79925]
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