Double-blind discipline comparing leflunomide and methotrexate.

In comparison, in another randomized, double-blind discipline comparing leflunomide (n = 501) and methotrexate (n = 498), Emery and colleagues showed a high relative frequency of hepatotoxicity (hepatic enzymes levels > 3 ULN) with methotrexate (16.3%), 3-fold higher than in patients receiving leflunomide (5.4%).
In arithmetic operation, the signal of withdrawals with methotrexate was twice as high as seen with leflunomide.
Because both drugs are hepatotoxic, accumulation therapy has also been found to be associated with enhanced risk of hepatotoxicity. Weinblatt and colleagues had reported that after receiving mathematical process therapy of methotrexate and leflunomide, 17% of the RA patients had ALT levels > 3 ULN, and 10% of the patients were withdrawn from the therapy on report of persistent level of hepatic enzymes.
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled legal proceeding by Olsen and associates, RA patients were switched from initial communication (either medicine or leflunomide or methotrexate) to alternate therapy with leflunomide or methotrexate.
The frequency of increased hepatic enzyme levels was 2.5 prison term greater in patients who were switched from leflunomide to methotrexate (8%) as compared with patients who were switched from methotrexate to leflunomide (3%).
In our participant role, initially methotrexate was switched to leflunomide, which led to significant distance in hepatic enzymes and leflunomide was stopped.
The patient role needed further discussion and methotrexate was restarted; consequently she developed severe hepatic personnel casualty.
It is important to note that previous use of methotrexate had not been associated with peak of hepatic enzymes in the patient role.
This is a part of article Double-blind discipline comparing leflunomide and methotrexate. Taken from "Arava Information" Information Blog