Efficacy of the clinical use of iguratimod therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Iguratimod (IGU) is a new synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug intended to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We conducted a 24-week study on the efficacy of IGU in RA patients with daily clinical use.

METHODS:

Forty-one patients were enrolled in this study, and the improvement in RA was evaluated every 4 weeks during the 24 weeks.

RESULTS:

The patient's global assessment of the disease activity with a scale (Pt VAS) was significantly decreased beginning at week 4. The disease activity score (DAS) 28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate, DAS28-C-reactive protein (CRP), simplified disease activity index and clinical disease activity index all significantly decreased at week 24. The matrix metalloproteinase-3 level was significantly decreased by the combination treatment with methotrexate at week 24. According to a logistic regression analysis, the factor which was most associated with the achievement of low disease activity (DAS28-CRP < 2.7) at week 24 was the DAS28-CRP at week 0.

CONCLUSIONS:

IGU had significant clinical effects on the RA patients within 24 weeks. IGU might therefore represent a new practical choice to treat RA patients.

• Authors: Koichi Okamura, Yukio Yonemoto, Chisa Okura, Tsutomu Kobayashi, Kenji Takagishi
• Journal: Modern rheumatology (Mod Rheumatol) Vol. 25 Issue 2 Pg. 235-40 (Mar 2015) ISSN: 1439-7609 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25065917 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antirheumatic Agents
• Chromones
• Sulfonamides
• iguratimod
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 3
• Methotrexate

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antirheumatic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (blood, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Chromones (therapeutic use)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 (blood)
• Methotrexate (therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Severity of Illness Index
• Sulfonamides (therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome