Case Report

Vasculitis Associated with the Use of Leflunomide

JEANNIE MacDONALD, TONI ZHONG, ADRIANA LAZARESCU, BING SIANG GAN, and MANFRED HARTH

ABSTRACT.

Vasculitis as a complication of leflunomide therapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has been reported. We describe a case of acute necrotizing vasculitis following leflunomide therapy. Characteristics of this case and 4 cases in the literature suggest that vasculitis may be a rare but serious adverse effect of leflunomide therapy. (J Rheumatol 2004;31:2076-8)

Key Indexing Terms:

LEFLUNOMIDE
VASCULITIS
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
IgA NEPHROPATHY

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From the Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, and Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.

J. MacDonald, MD; T. Zhong, MD; B.S. Gan, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACS, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; A. Lazarescu, MD; M. Harth, MD, FRCPC, Division of Rheumatology.

Address reprint requests to Dr. M. Harth, The Arthritis Institute, St. Joseph's Health Centre, 268 Grosvenor Street, London, Ontario N6A 4V2, Canada. E-mail: manfred.harth@sjhc.london.on.ca

Submitted December 5, 2003; revision accepted March 10, 2004.

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