Journal Top 10 - COLUMNS-Drugs & Supplements, March 2004

1 Related Drug: Arava

Article: Leflunomide-Induced Acute Hepatitis

Summary: The report of a 67-year-old woman who was prescribed leflunomide (Arava, Aventis Pharmaceuticals) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Fifteen days after initiating leflunomide therapy, the patient developed diarrhea and elevated liver enzymes. A liver biopsy revealed a pattern of acute hepatitis. However, the researchers noted that the patient was homozygous for the rare CYP2C9*3 allele, which determines the slowest metabolic rate for CYP2C9 enzyme activity, that is probably involved in the metabolism of leflunomide. The patient's condition improved in a few weeks. The researchers concluded that this …