SAT0388 Comparative assessment of methotrexate and leflunomide by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives To assess the efficacy comparing methotrexate and leflunomide by hand magnetic resonance imaging (h-MRI) in early RA patients. Methods A prospective cohort of patients with early RA (duration of symptoms Results A total of 78 RA patients were included, of these 62 pacients had paired h-MRI (33 with MTX and 29 with LF). Sixteen patients withdrew treatment (6 patients moved residence, 6 declined to participate, 3 loss of compliance of treatment and 1 case of pregnancy desire). No patients showed inefficacy or adverse events. Baseline characteristics including MRI parameters were similar (no significantly different) between the 2 treatment groups. Significant improvement in all activity measures, HAQ and RAMRIS synovitis were observed in the LF- and MTX-treated patients after 16 weeks of therapy. MTX group showed significant reduction of tenosynovitis score. No statistically significant differences between 2 treatments were observed, except that the SDAI reduction was greater in the MTX group (table 1). Conclusions Methotrexate and leflunomide showed comparable clinical efficacy and reduction on MRI synovitis at week 16 without significant differences between the both active treatments. Disclosure of Interest None Declared