@entity309 treatment with weekly XXXX : an open-label study.

@entity1 @entity137 @entity6963 @entity882 @entity309 @entity110
OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and effectiveness of @entity6963 (LNF) using 100 mg/week in @entity1 with @entity309 ( @entity309 ). METHODS: @entity1 who were clinically active using the American College of Rheumatology criteria for @entity309 were enrolled. They received a loading dose of 100 mg of LFN for 3 days, followed by 100 mg of LFN weekly. Efficacy and @entity137 ( @entity137 ) were recorded. RESULTS: Fifty @entity1 were enrolled; 46 (93.6%) were @entity1 with a mean age of 45.6 years (range: 24 to 83). Disease duration was 3.7 years (range: 0.5 to 12). Twenty @entity1 (40.8%) had previously taken disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. Outcomes achieved after 24 weeks of treatment were as follows: ACR20 (74%), ACR50 (64%), and ACR70 (28%). Five @entity1 were withdrawn due to @entity137 : 2 due to @entity110 , 2 @entity1 had elevated liver enzymes, and one had @entity882 . Six @entity1 (12%) were lost to followup. No severe @entity137 were seen. CONCLUSION: The results in our preliminary report indicate that using a 100 mg/week dose achieves a similar benefit to the LFN 20 mg/day treatment, and there were no severe @entity137 . In addition, a single LFN weekly dose has better treatment compliance. A secondary important benefit is the reduction of the monthly cost of medication. Comparative and blind trials are necessary in order to confirm longterm improvement and benefits on this regimen.
