Leflunomide improves psoriasis in patients with psoriatic arthritis: an in-depth analysis of data from the TOPAS study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Leflunomide has shown promise in the treatment of psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE:

To provide an in-depth analysis of the effect of leflunomide on psoriasis in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

METHODS:

190 patients with plaque psoriasis (at least 3% skin involvement) and active PsA were randomized to double-blind treatment with leflunomide (100 mg/day loading dose for 3 days followed by 20 mg/day orally) or placebo for 24 weeks.

RESULTS:

As previously reported, leflunomide resulted in a significantly higher Psoriatic Arthritis Response Criteria response rate than placebo (58.9 vs. 29.7%; p < 0.0001). Significant differences in favor of leflunomide were also observed in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 50 in 30.4% of patients vs. 18.9% for placebo; p = 0.05), target lesion response (46.4 vs. 25.3%; p = 0.0048), combined skin and joint response (27.2 vs. 8.9%; p < 0.0001), Dermatology Life Quality Index (improvement of 1.9 points vs. 0.2; p = 0.0173) and certain SF-36 subdomains. Dermatological responses were observed at the earliest examination (4 weeks) and increased throughout the 24-week study.

CONCLUSION:

Once-daily oral leflunomide is an effective and convenient treatment for PsA and plaque psoriasis.

• Authors: Peter Nash, Diamant Thaçi, Frank Behrens, Franziska Falk, J Peter Kaltwasser
• Journal: Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland) (Dermatology) Vol. 212 Issue 3 Pg. 238-49 ( 2006) ISSN: 1018-8665 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 16549920 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

Chemical References

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Isoxazoles
• Leflunomide

Topics

• Adjuvants, Immunologic (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Administration, Oral
• Adult
• Aged
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Arthritis, Psoriatic (drug therapy)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Isoxazoles (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Leflunomide
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Psoriasis (drug therapy, pathology)
• Quality of Life
• Skin (pathology)