Is Arava Safe ?

USES: treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Arava® is an immunomodulatory drug inhibiting dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (an enzyme involved in de novo pyrimidine synthesis) (abbreviation DHODH). Genuine antiproliferative activity has been proven. Additionally, several experimental models (both in vivo and in vitro) have demonstrated an anti-inflammatory effect. This double action is supposed to slow progression of the disease and to cause remission/relief of symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis such as joint tenderness and decreased joint and general mobility in human patients.

Due to its potent immunosuppression, leflunomide has the potential to promote myeloid/lymphatic malignancies or solid cancers. In postmarketing reports some cases of lymphoma have been noticed, the absolute number of cases and the case/patient ratio is unknown. In rheumatoid arthritis patients a several-fold increase of lymphoma is already found in those patients not treated with any DMARD.