Псориатический артрит: новые подходы к лечению

Purpose: to estimate efficacy and portability of leflunomide, prescribed of 100 mg per 24 h during 3 days and 20 mg per 24 h during 6 months in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PA). Materials and methods. An overt uncontrolled study is performed. 15 patients at the age of 37 60 years are examined, arthritis duration averaged 7,4 years. Leflunomide was given in 100 mg per 24 h for the first 3 days, then 20 mg per 24 h during 6 months. Dynamics of amount of painful and swollen joints, pain intensity and disease activity according to visual-analogue scale, scale of Likert according to doctor and patients opinion were assessed. Results. Against a background of leflunomide, a reliable decrease of the amount of painful and swollen joints by 54,3 and 65,7%, respectively was observed. A high efficacy of leflunomide according to PsARC and ACR 50 criteria in 86,7% of cases is observed, that allows to advise it to the patients with polyarticular form of the disease. Leflunomide portability is assessed as satisfactory. In 3 patients the therapy was abolished due to leukopenia and hives development. Conclusion. A high efficacy of leflunomide in patients with polyarticular form of PA is demonstrated.