To assess the efficacy response rate at 3-months of two dosing regimen of leflunomide in DMARDs-naive patients presenting an early-RA using American College of Rheumatology 20% response rate.

To assess the clinical efficacy at 1-month and 3-month using complementary efficacy criteria (ACR 50, ACR 70, DAS 28) in each group of treatment, To assess the clinical and biological safety using standard blood monitoring, TEAED and SAE in each group of treatment, To evaluate treatment modifications; particularity leflunomide and concomitant use of AINS and corticoids.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of active rheumatoid arthritis in the previous 6 months (according to the ACR guidelines)
• Must have active disease to be initiated by DMARDs (Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient presenting or having a history of other inflammatory joint disease

• Patient with ongoing or previous Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis or erythema multiforme

• Patient with significantly impaired bone marrow function or significant anaemia, leucopenia or thrombocytopenia due to causes or other than active rheumatoid arthritis

• Persistent infection or severe infection within 3 months before enrollment,

• Uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes, unstable ischemic heart disease, active inflammatory bowel disease, active peptic ulcer disease, terminal illness or other medical condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, would put the patient at risk to participate in the study,

• Clinically relevant cardiovascular, hepatic, neurological, endocrine, or other major systemic disease making implementation of the protocol or interpretation of the study results difficult

• Severe hypoproteinemia (e.g., in case of severe liver disease or nephrotic syndrome) with serum albumin < 3.0 g/dl

• Moderate or severe impairment of renal function, as known by serum creatinine > 133 mcmol/L (or 1.5 mg/dl)

• Patient with history of recent and clinically significant drug or alcohol abuse

• Impairment of liver function or persisting ALT (SGPT) elevations of more than 2-fold the upper limit of normal

• Pregnancy

• Breastfeeding

• Women of childbearing potential, except if they fulfill specific conditions,

• Men wishing to father children during the course of the study or within the 24 months thereafter (or 3 month with the washout procedure)

• Patient with a congenital or acquired severe immuno-deficiency, a history of cancer or lymphoproliferative disease, or any patient who has received total lymphoid irradiation

• Known HIV positive status

• Known positive serology for hepatitis B or C

• Patient with hypersensitivity to any of the excipients in the tablets of leflunomide

• Previous therapy at any time with:

  • any DMARD including methotrexate, oral or injectable gold salts, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, ciclosporin, azathioprine, methotrexate, sulfasalazine
  • D penicillamine
  • alkylating agents, e.g., cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, biological agents, e.g., interferon, monoclonal antibodies, growth factor, cytokines
  • any investigational drug
  • any antimetabolites
  • any opiates

• Therapy within the previous 4 weeks with:

  • oral corticosteroids exceeding a prednisolone equivalent of 10 mg/day
  • parenteral or intra-articular corticoid injection

The above information is not intended to contain all considerations relevant to a patient's potential participation in a clinical trial.