Pulmonary Nodulosis Associated with Leflunomide Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Report of Four Cases and Review of the Literature

Year 2016, , 98 - 102, 01.03.2016

Ayse Balkarli , Veli Cobankara

https://doi.org/10.5799/jcei.328697

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multisystem inflammatory disease characterized by destructive synovitis and systemic
extra-articular involvement. Leflunomide is a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug with anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative
features. Leflunomide is an isoxazole immunomodulatory agent, which inhibits dihydroorotate dehydrogenase
enzyme involved in de novo pyrimidine synthesis. It was shown that leflunomide can reduce signs and symptoms
of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with regression in structural damage. Pulmonary involvement is one of the extra-articular
manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis and it can occur due to either disease itself or medications used in the treatment.
We presented 4 cases with rheumatoid arthritis which developed pulmonary nodules with leflunomide therapy and
reviewed literature. J Clin Exp Invest 2016; 7 (1): 98-102

Keywords

Rheumatoid arthritis, leflunomide, pulmonary nodule

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