Influence of long-term leflunomide treatment on serum amyloid concentration in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Journal Title: Pharmacological Reports - Year 2010, Vol 62, Issue 4
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory disease that requires intervention with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to stop disease progression. Leflunomide (LEF) is a DMARD with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. As its primary mode of action, LEF reversibly inhibits dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, a key enzyme in de novo biosynthesis of pyrimidine in cells. Serum amyloid A protein (SAA) is elevated in inflammatory states and high SAA levels indicate a risk of developing secondary amyloidosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of long-term LEF treatment on SAA levels and disease activity in a group of RA patients. The study group consisted of 50 consecutive RA patients (43 F, 7 M) treated with leflunomide. All patients had a clinical evaluation and SAA measurements taken at two consecutive visits during months 0, 1, 3, 6 and 12. Mean SAA concentrations decreased significantly in the first months of LEF therapy (up to the 6th month) with a more pronounced effect in patients with higher SAA levels. However, by the 12(th) month of treatment, the mean SAA level did not differ significantly from the SAA level at the start of treatment. At the same time though, other clinical and laboratory parameters of RA activity indicated that the disease activity decreased. Results demonstrated that in patients with active RA LEF therapy provided a significant, long-term reduction of inflammatory activity, as measured by the classic parameters of disease activity. During the treatment, SAA concentrations decreased significantly, followed by a slight increase, in spite of a reduction in other classical indicators of inflammatory response.
Authors and Affiliations
Bożena Targońska-Stępniak, Magdalena Dryglewska, Maria Majdan
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP134404
- DOI -
- Views 86
- Downloads 0
Evaluation of the anticonvulsant activity of 6-(4-chlorophenyoxy)-tetrazolo[5,1-a]phthalazine in various experimental seizure models in mice.
This study investigated the anticonvulsant activity of a new phthalazine tetrazole derivative, QUAN-0808 (6-(4-chlorophenoxy)-tetrazolo[5,1-a]phthalazine), in the mouse maximal electroshock (MES) seizure model. The neuro...
Regulation of serotonin N-acetyltransferase activity in the chick pineal gland by UV-A and white light: role of MK-801- and SCH 23390-sensitive retinal signals.
The rhythmic melatonin synthesis in the pineal gland is one of the most extensively studied circadian rhythms in vertebrates. Light is the dominant environmental factor controlling this process. Light at night acutely su...
Kavain analogues as potential analgesic agents.
BACKGROUNd: Kavalactones are pharmacologically active compounds present in preparations of the root trunk of Piper methysticum Forst, known as kava. This work describes the analgesic activity of some synthesized analogue...
Amphetamine-induced effects on neuropeptide Y in the rat brain.
Repeated (+)-amphetamine sulfate (AMPH) administration (5 mg/kg sc twicedaily for 6 days and once on day 7) markedly and reversibly decreased (until 96 h after the final dose)neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity (NPY-LI)...
Effects of sesquiterpene, flavonoid and coumarin types of compounds from Artemisia annua L. on production of mediators of angiogenesis.
Background: In addition to recognized antimalarial effects, Artemisia annua L. (Qinghao) possesses anticancer properties. The underlying mechanisms of this activity are unknown. The aim of our experiments was to investig...