To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: DG DISPATCH - EULAR: Leflunomide Of Benefit In Active RA URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1060A6.htm Doctor's Guide June 9, 1999
By David Jack Special to DG News GLASGOW, SCOTLAND -- June 9, 1999 -- Hoechst Marion Roussel's leflunomide is more effective than methotrextate in improving health status measures and functional activities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to the results of a study presented by Dr. P. Tugwell, from the University of Ottawa, and colleagues from the Leflunomide US Investigators Group. The results of their study were presented at a poster session yesterday during the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR). Leflunomide is one of the new disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. The 12-month, multi-centre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial compared the efficacy of leflunomide with methotrexate. A total of 482 patients were randomised to receive either leflunomide 20 mg daily after a 100 mg loading dose for three days, methotrexate 7.5 to 15.0 mg/weekly or placebo. A Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire was administered monthly, Problem Elicitation Technique and Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form 36 at baseline, 24 and 52 weeks. Mean changes in test scores showed a significant improvement in function and health related quality of life with leflunomide treatment compared with placebo. Many of the other parameters were also significantly improved. Leflunomide produced significantly greater improvements than methotrexate in the Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire, five of the eight Health Assessment Questionnaire Scales and Disability Index, weighted top five of Problem Elicitation Technique and two of eight subscores of the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form 36. The researchers concluded that functional ability improved from baseline in both active treatment groups but that leflunomide produced a significantly greater improvement than methotrexate in health status measures and functional activities which are considered important for a patient's health-related quality of life. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.