Abstract
Objectives: Iguratimod (IGU) is the newest disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (cs-DMARDs) received regulatory approval in 2012. The efficacy of IGU was investigated with 133 RA patients at the authors' hospital.
Methods: Of the 133 RA patients who had been administered IGU at the authors' hospital since September 2012, the survey covered the 65 patients with whom analysis was possible. These consisted of 61 females and 4 males. The mean age was 57±13 years, and the mean disease duration was 1.0±3.7 years. Of the 65 patients, 51 (78.4%) were concomitantly administered methotrexate, and the mean methotrexate dose was 10.4 mg/week. Using DAS28CRP, the efficacy was evaluated, and the maintenance rate, safety, etc., were investigated.
Results: Alleviation according to the DAS28CRP was shown from week 4 of IGU administration. At week 12, 55% of patients showed remission or low disease activity; and at week 24, 37% showed remission, and 18% showed low or no disease activity. The maintenance rate for these effects was 77%.
Conclusions: The development of effects with IGU was at least as favorable as with other cs-DMARDs, and it is an excellent drug with respect to efficacy and maintenance rate. It is expected that it will constitute an effective therapeutic agent for RA in future.
