Relative efficacy and safety of iguratimod monotherapy for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ConclusionOur evidence suggests that iguratimod may be considered a potential alternative to methotrexate to treat rheumatoid arthritis.Key Points•The Asia Pacific League of Association for Rheumatology (APLAR) has recommended that iguratimod may be used a first-line drug for rheumatoid arthritis in specific cases.•Patients on iguratimod may have similar treatment response, functional ability, disease state, and adverse event profile at 24  weeks compared with those on methotrexate.•Iguratimod may be considered a better alternative to methotrexate in RA patients having high CRP and ESR values.•Future clinical trials in diverse population comparing the efficacy and safety of iguratimod in monotherapy or combination therapy with DMARDs (other than methotrexate) are warranted.
Source: Clinical Rheumatology - Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research