The purpose of the researchers at Université Victor Segalen, Bordeaux, France, has been to monitor the potential clinical neurotoxic symptoms in patients treated with Leflunomide ( Arava ) in daily practice and to describe the characteristics of patients presenting with this peripheral nervous system symptoms.

All patients treated with Leflunomide between May 2000 and April 2003 and followed in the Rheumatology Department of the University Hospital participated in the study.

One hundred and thirteen patients were included in the study. M/F sex ratio was 0.45. Mean age at start of treatment was 55.6 years ( range = 27-81 ).

During the study period, eight incident cases of peripheral neuropathy and two cases of worsening of preexisting neuropathy were reported ( incidence: 9.8% ).

Compared with other patients, neuropathy cases were older ( 69 vs. 54 years, p = 0.0006 ), more often diabetic ( 30% vs. 2.9%, p = 0.009 ) and more often treated with potentially neurotoxic drugs ( 20% vs. 1.9%, p = 0.039 ). At least one risk factor ( potentially neurotoxic drug or diabetes ) was found in 50% of patients with neuropathy versus 4% of patients without neuropathy.

Source: Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, 2007

XagenaMedicine2007



Link: Xapedia - Medical Encyclopedia