A comparison of the efficacy and safety of leflunomide and methotrexate for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Both leflunomide and methotrexate are efficacious for prolonged treatment of RA. At the doses used, some clinical benefit of methotrexate over leflunomide was observed in the first year of treatment. This benefit must be weighed against the potential toxicity of this drug when used without folate supplementation.