The Efficacy and Safety of Leflunomide for the Treatment of Lupus Nephritis in Chinese Patients: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of leflunomide as a new immunosuppressive medicine in lupus nephritis (LN) through a meta-analysis.A systematic review evaluating the efficacy and safety of leflunomide compared with cyclophosphamide in adult patients with LN was performed. Data from relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) performed before December 2014 was collected from several databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI and CBM). No language restrictions were applied. Efficacy outcomes included overall remission, SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score, 24-hour proteinuria and serum creatinine. Safety data were analyzed. The effects of treatment on these outcomes were summarized as relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and mean differences were pooled using a fixed or random effects model.