Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with leflunomide

Leflunomide is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, antirheumatic, improve the disease, delay the progression of a class of drugs, the normal dose is 10 to 20 mg per day. The main adverse reactions of leflunomide are diarrhea, itching, hypertension, liver enzymes increased, rash hair loss and transient white blood cell decline, etc., especially when combined with methotrexate. Liver function and white blood cells should be monitored regularly at the beginning of the treatment. Because leflunomide has teratogenic effects, pregnant women are prohibited, if the patient is ready to become pregnant, leflunomide should be discontinued for at least two years, which can be used to dissolve the anti-drug cholestyramine to reduce the blood concentration of leflunomide, but when taking cholestyramine, it is also necessary to discontinue leflunomide for more than half a year before pregnancy can be considered. Because lefomide and methotrexate inhibit cell proliferation through different links, they can be used in conjunction with regular monitoring of liver function.