Triple III Comparison of Leflunomide Alone Versus Two DMARD Combinations in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Triple III Comparison of Leflunomide Alone Versus Two DMARD Combinations (Leflunomide-Hydroxychloroquine-Sulfasalazine or Methotrexate-Hydroxychloroquine-Sulfasalazine) in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

The study has been designed as a 48-week, double-blind, randomized, controlled study comparing the use of leflunomide alone to combinations of leflunomide-sulfasalazine-HCQ, and methotrexate-sulfasalazine-HCQ.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Leflunomide; Drug: Methotrexate-Sulfasalazine-Hydroxychloroquine; Drug: Leflunomide-Sulfasalazine-Hydroxychloroquine

Detailed Description

Objectives: The combination of methotrexate-sulfasalazine-hydroxychloroquine has been shown to be more effective than methotrexate alone or the double combination of methotrexate-sulfasalazine or methotrexate-hydroxychloroquine. The objective of this study is to look at the safety and efficacy of a new DMARD, leflunomide, alone or in combination with traditional DMARDs (sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine).

Research Design: This protocol has been designed as a 48 week, double blind, randomized, prospective and controlled. A total of 180 subjects will be enrolled, and randomly assigned to one of three study arms (60 subjects in each arm): 1) leflunomide alone; 2) leflunomide-sulfasalazine-hydroxychloroquine; 3) methotrexate-sulfasalazine-hydroxychloroquine. All subjects will receive an identical number of medications in a combination of active drug and placebo. Patients are further stratified into two groups: methotrexate-naïve (no history of methotrexate); and methotrexate-failure (failed to achieve clinical response at top dose of 20 mg/week for at least 8 weeks). Methotrexate-naïve patients will start the study at 10 mg/week methotrexate with possible increases at next evaluations dependent on remission criteria. Methotrexate-failure patients will start the study at the top study dose of 20 mg/week and remain at that dose for the entire study.

Methodology: All patients will be recruited from outpatient academic, private practice, and VA rheumatology clinics. Subjects will be between the ages of 19 and 80 years. No pediatric subjects will be enrolled. No enrollment restrictions are based on race, ethnic origin or gender. Inclusion criteria includes: formal diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis per ACR criteria; disease duration of >6 months; at least 6 swollen and 6 tender joints on examination; and negative urine pregnancy test for premenopausal females. Specific exclusion criteria includes: previous treatment with leflunomide or combination DMARDs; abnormal lab values; history of allergy to sulfa, aspirin or tartrazine; any significant comorbid diseases; and unwillingness to avoid alcohol. Study subjects will return for evaluations every 8 weeks. All patients will be monitored for efficacy and signs of drug toxicity throughout the study by laboratory examination (CBC with platelets, AST or ALT, albumin, creatinine, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate), hand x-rays, retinal examination, and chest x-rays (if indicated). Every six months subjects will be asked to complete the ClinHAQ and SF36 questionnaires, designed to evaluate the effect of RA on daily live (ADLs). Subjects will be withdrawn from the study: due to pregnancy; serious adverse event not alleviated by symptomatic treatment; recurrent toxicity that reappears after treatment or drug suspension; lack of efficacy (20% improvement by week 32); non-compliance with the protocol; or withdrawal of consent. The primary study outcome measures were planned before data collection began.

Clinical Relationship: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease affecting a large proportion of the population. It produces significant morbidity and may result in premature mortality. The majority of patients with RA remain on disease-modifying agents for less than two years because of toxicity or lack of efficacy. Because of the failure of standard therapies to consistently halt and slow the progression of disease and the incidence of side effects, new approaches are clearly needed.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 69
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Nebraska
    • Omaha, Nebraska, United States, 69198-3025
      • University of Nebraska Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 19 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age greater or 19 years and less than or 80 years old
• Duration of disease greater or equal to 6 months
• Diagnosis of RA with criteria
• Negative urine pregnancy test
• Be capable of understanding and giving written, voluntary informed consent
• Must present with at least six swollen and six tender joints at the screening evaluation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients treated previously with leflunomide
• Patients that have been treated with methotrexate in combination with any of the study drugs
• Patients with a history of allergy to, or any history of significant clinical or laboratory adverse experience associated with any of the study drugs
• Doses of oral steroids that are either unstable or greater than 10mg/day
• Stage IV disease or other significant disease including chest x-rays that show evidence of rheumatoid lung disease. Stage IV disease is defined as x-ray evidence of cartilage/bone destruction with fibrous or bony ankylosis; creatinine greater than 2.0mg/dL, AST or ALT greater normal
• Any significant liver, renal , hematologic, pulmonary, cardiovascular disease (including uncontrolled hypertension), any active peptic ulcer disease, or visual problems including a recent decrease in acuity, retinal disease, or macular degeneration
• Patients who are not willing to abstain from alcohol consumption
• Women of childbearing potential who are not practicing a successful method of contraception, or wish to become pregnant
• Patients that are unable to understand the study procedures and/or give written informed consent.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Methotrexate-Sulfasalazine-Hydroxychloroquine; Methotrexate, Sulfasalazine, Hydroxychloroquine.	Drug: Methotrexate-Sulfasalazine-Hydroxychloroquine; Methotrexate: dosing starts at 10mg/week (4 tabs/wk). If total remission (according to ACR criteria found in Appendix II) has not been achieved and the labs are acceptable at the 8-week evaluation, the dose increased to 15 mg/week (6 tabs/wk);at the 16-week evaluation, the dose increased to 20 mg/week (8 tabs/wk). This dose will remain stable until the end of the study. Sulfasalazine: dosing will start at 500 mg bid (1000 mg/day). This dose will remain steady until the 24-week evaluation. If total remission has not been achieved by this time and the labs remain acceptable,dose will be increased to 1000 mg bid (2000 mg/day) Hydroxychloroquine: dosing will be started and maintained throughout the study at 200 mg bid (400 mg/day).; Other Names: Trexall, Rheumatrex; Azulfidine®; Plaquenil®
Active Comparator: Leflunomide alone vs combination therapy; Group A: Leflunomide alone	Drug: Leflunomide; A loading dose of 100 mg (or placebo) for three (3) days will be given. Following that three-day period, a dose of 20 mg/day will be maintained throughout the remainder of the study. This dose may be decreased to 10 mg/day at the discretion of the treating physician if minor toxicities occur (e.g., diarrhea, liver enzyme elevations; Other Names: Arava®
Active Comparator: Leflunomide-Sulfasalazine-Hydroxychloroquine	Drug: Leflunomide-Sulfasalazine-Hydroxychloroquine; Leflunomide: dose of 100 mg (or placebo) for three (3) days. Followed by a dose of 20 mg/day will be maintained throughout the remainder of the study. dose may be decreased to 10 mg/day at the discretion of the treating physician if minor toxicities occur Sulfasalazine: dosing will start at 500 mg bid (1000 mg/day). This dose will remain steady until the 24-week evaluation. If total remission has not been achieved by this time and the labs remain acceptable, dose will be increased to 1000 mg bid (2000 mg/day) Hydroxychloroquine: dosing will be started and maintained throughout the study at 200 mg bid (400 mg/day).; Other Names: Arava®; Azulfidine®; Plaquenil®

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Measuring the Safety and Efficacy of a New DMARD, Leflunomide Alone or in Combination With Traditional DMARD's. Participants Reaching ACR 20 Response. at 48 Weeks	The combination of Methotrexate-Sulfasalazine-Hydroxychloroquine has been shown to be more effective than Methotrexate alone or the double combination of Methotrexate-Hydroxychloroquine. Primary outcome is ACR 20 response at 48 weeks. An ACR 20 Response is a measure of at least 20% improvement in the number of tender and swollen joints. and a 20% improvement in at least 3 of the following: the patient's global assessment of disease status; the patient's assessment of pain; the patient's assessment of function; the physician's global assessment of disease status; serum C-reactive protein levels.	48 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Nebraska
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: James R O'Dell, MD, University of Nebraska

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 27, 2001
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 11, 2010
• Study Completion (Actual): March 11, 2010

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 17, 2007
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 21, 2007
• First Posted (Estimated): December 24, 2007

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 2, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 22, 2023
• Last Verified: September 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Immune System Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Connective Tissue Diseases; Arthritis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Anti-Infective Agents; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; Enzyme Inhibitors; Analgesics; Sensory System Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antirheumatic Agents; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Antimetabolites; Antineoplastic Agents; Immunosuppressive Agents; Immunologic Factors; Gastrointestinal Agents; Dermatologic Agents; Reproductive Control Agents; Antiprotozoal Agents; Antiparasitic Agents; Antimalarials; Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; Abortifacient Agents; Folic Acid Antagonists; Methotrexate; Leflunomide; Hydroxychloroquine; Sulfasalazine
• Other Study ID Numbers: 0012-01-FB

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No