Abstract
Various kinds of factors contribute to osteoporosis by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compare with post-menopausal osteoporosis. In this study, we analyzed the influence for bone metabolism administration with leflunomid for RA patient. A subject is the 19 RA patients after menopause older than 48 years old that do not take administration of bisphosphonate previously. These patients were given leflunomid as a treatment purpose of RA, and measured urine-NTX, serum -NTX, BAP, OC and bone mineral density (BMD), in the period of before administration with leflunomid, six months and one year of later. NTX value in the urine was significantly decreased in the period of administration six months compared with before administration. Serum-NTX, BAP and OC were observed decreasing tendency in the period of administration six months compared with before administration, but not significantly. However, as for these values, appearing came back to before administration and an approximately equal value administration one year later. On the other hand, BMD and %YAM value increased an average of 3.6% and 2.2%, respectively, and these effects were maintained to the annual back for administration 1 year. In this study, we observed that leflunomid has the ability to return osteoporosis of high turn type to normal turn.
