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Peripheral neuropathy in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases treated with leflunomide
  1. C Metzler1,
  2. A C Arlt2,
  3. W L Gross1,
  4. J Brandt1
  1. 1Department of Rheumatology, University of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck and Rheumaklinik Bad Bramstedt, Germany
  2. 2Department of Neurology, Rheumaklinik Bad Bramstedt, Germany
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr C Metzler
    University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Department of Rheumatology, Ratzeburger Allee 160, D-23538 Luebeck, Germany; metzlerrheuma-zentrum.de

https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2005.038265

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    Leflunomide (LEF) was introduced as a new disease modifying antirheumatic drug in 1998. Up to now hepatotoxicity, hypertension, and diarrhoea have been reported as adverse events. Peripheral neuropathy (PNP) has been described in eight patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis.1–,3 In the postmarketing surveillance PNP does not appear as a side effect.4

    This first retrospective study aimed at evaluating whether LEF might be associated with PNP in a large cohort of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

    All inpatients of a primary rheumatology clinic with systemic rheumatic diseases and treatment with LEF between August 1998 and May 2004 were retrospectively screened for a new onset of PNP. Patients with definite reasons for PNP—for example, active vasculitis or collagenosis, diabetes mellitus, lack of vitamins, alcohol abuse, and neoplasms, were …

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