The efficacy and safety of leflunomide (LEF) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were evaluated and the comparison with methotrexate’s (MTX’s) was performed in a 12 week, single blind, randomized, parallel trial for treating 81 patients with RA. There were 56 cases in LEF group and 25 cases in MTX group. The dose of LEF was 20 mg per day and MTX 15 mg per week. All patients took oxaproxin simultaneously at the 4th to 6th week after the trail. The results showed that the general effective rate and notable effective rate were 94.64 % and 73.21 % in LEF group, 72 % and 44 % in MTX group, respectively, with the differences being statistically significant between the two groups ( P <0.05). LEF and oxaprozin could obviously improve the symptoms, signs and joint functions. The incidence of side reactions was lower in LEF group (17.86 %) than in MTX group (40.00 %, P <0.05). LEF had a good therapeutic effect for RA, especially for refractory RA and had slight side reactions, and could be regarded as a superior immunosuppressive agent used in the treatment of RA and other connective tissue diseases.
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