@article{article_451731, title={Can Leflunomide prevent Methotrexate induced liver toxicity?}, journal={Pamukkale Medical Journal}, volume={11}, pages={321–327}, year={2018}, DOI={10.31362/patd.451731}, url={https://izlik.org/JA45DD26SF}, author={Kutluana, Ufuk and Oruç, Nevin and Dinçer Tekekoğlu, Selma and Çallı Demirkan, Neşe and Akdağ, Beyza and Yılmaz, Mustafa and Yönetçi, Nadir and Özütemiz, Ömer}, keywords={Leflunomide,methotrexate,liver toxicity}, abstract={<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"> <span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#5E0000;mso-fareast-language: TR">INTRODUCTION: Long-term clinical use of Methotrexate is to connect with a raised risk of liver injury and fibrosis. Leflunomide is a is a disease-modifying drug. Leflunomide has a powerful inhibitory effect on nuclear factor kappa B activation. Leflunomide also presents antioxidant activity. In this experimental study, we aimed to investigate the effects of Leflunomide treatment on Methotrexate -induced hepatotoxicity. <br> METHODS: Thirty-nine rats were divided into 4 groups. A single dose of 20mg/kg Methotrexate was injected intraperitoneally for Methotrexate-induced hepatotoxicity. After induction, Leflunomide (10 mg/kg) was administered into the stomach for consecutive 5 days. Then, serum samples and homogenated liver tissues were collected for analyzed serum alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, superoxide dismutase activity, myeloperoxidase activity, glutathione levels and assessment of histopathology. <br> RESULTS: Leflunomide treatment significantly ameliorated total histopathologic score according to semiquantitative scale compared to the untreated group, (Pathological score 1.1+0.7 versus 5.1+2 respectively, p<0,01). Leflunomide treatment significantly ameliorated Kuppfer cell activation. (Elevation of the activated Kupffer cells score were 0.2+0.6 and 2.5+1.01 respectively, p = 0.001). The serum alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase levels were lower and glutathione levels, myeloperoxidase activity, and superoxide dismutase activity were similar between Leflunomide treated and untreated Methotrexate toxicity groups. <br> DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Leflunomide treatment ameliorated Methotrexate induced liver toxicity in an experimental model. <o:p> </o:p> </span> </p>}, number={3}