@entity1499 ( @entity1500 ) is a first-line disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) in @entity309 ( @entity309 ). @entity6963 (LEF) and the biologic agents entered the arsenal of DMARDs in 1998. Therapeutic properties of new drugs are still under survey. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of @entity1500 , LEF and a biologic agent ( @entity310 blocker) combined with @entity1500 in reducing disease activity in @entity309 . Seventy-eight @entity1 with active @entity309 underwent a 24-week treatment with @entity1500 15 mg/week (30 pts), LEF 20 mg/day (30 pts) or a @entity310 blocker (etanercept 25 mg 2x weekly or infliximab 3 mg/kg in the week 0, 2, 6 and every 8 weeks thereafter) plus @entity1500 15 mg/week (18 pts). Only @entity1 with @entity309 resistant to @entity1500 were included in groups receiving LEF or a biologic agent. During follow-up, @entity1 ' characteristics, disease characteristics, and clinical and laboratory data were registered. @entity309 activity was evaluated using the ESR, tender and swollen joint counts, the duration of @entity7127 , disease activity score-28 (DAS 28), visual analogue scale (VAS) and health assessment questionnaire (HAQ). Treatment efficacy was demonstrated with ACR 20, 50 and 70 criteria. All groups revealed statistically significant improvement in all disease activity parameters measured. The percentage improvements were similar in groups treated with @entity1500 and LEF and--except for VAS--significantly greater in the group treated with a biologic agent. Disease activity assessed by DAS 28 decreased significantly in all groups: the results were comparable in groups treated with @entity1500 and LEF and significantly more prominent in the group treated with a @entity310 blocker. The ACR 20, 50 and 70 improvements amounted, respectively: 100, 50 and 7% in @entity1500 group 87, 60 and 13% in LEF group and 100, 83 and 50% in a biologic agent group. The study revealed equal effectiveness of @entity1500 and LEF in reducing disease activity in @entity309 . The efficacy of a @entity310 blocker combined with @entity1500 was higher than that of each conventional DMARDs, especially with regard to ACR 70 criteria (considerable improvement after treatment). LEF was equally effective as @entity1500 in @entity1 unable to continue @entity1500 treatment due to the drug's ineffectiveness.

Preliminary evaluation in @entity309 activity in XXXX treated with @entity310 blocker plus @entity1499 versus @entity1499 or @entity6963 alone.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity6963 :: ('MESH:C045463', 'Chemical') :: ['Leflunomide'] @entity310 :: ('7124', 'Gene') :: ['TNF-alpha'] @entity7127 :: ('MESH:D048968', 'Disease') :: ['morning stiffness'] @entity1500 :: ('CHEBI:44185', 'Chemical') :: ['MTX'] @entity1499 :: ('MESH:D008727', 'Chemical') :: ['Methotrexate'] @entity309 :: ('MESH:D001172', 'Disease') :: ['rheumatoid arthritis', 'RA']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['patients']
