The Drug-Induced Respiratory Disease Website and App

Frequency - Incidence

Incidence of respiratory adverse event(s) due to the specific drug as assessed by number of reported/published cases in the literature. Red digits in stars indicate: 0 = Very rare, questionable signal · 1 = < 10 cases · 2 = 10-50 cases · 3 = 50–100 cases · 4 = 100-200 cases · 5 = >200 cases

Evidence level/grade

Evidence level for respiratory adverse event(s) due to the specific drug as estimated using Hill’s (1965), Naranjo’s (1981), and Bégaud’s (1985) criteria applied to published cases. Blue digits in stars indicate: 0 = Questionable · 1 = Low · 2 = Moderate · 3 = Robust · 4 = Definite · 5 = Unquestionable, pathognomonic

I.b

Pneumonitis (interstitial lung disease/ILD)

Recent data (PMID 26980577) cast some doubt about the existence of leflunomide-induced pneumonitis

Publications

Raj R, Nugent K

Leflunomide-induced interstitial lung disease (a systematic review).

Sarcoidosis, vasculitis, and diffuse lung diseases : official journal of WASOG 2013 Nov 22;30;167-76 — 2013 Nov 22 — 167-76

Chikura B, Lane S, Dawson JK

Clinical expression of leflunomide-induced pneumonitis.

Rheumatology (Oxford, England) 2009 Sep;48;1065-8 — 2009 Sep — 1065-8

Suissa S, Hudson M, Ernst P

Leflunomide use and the risk of interstitial lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis and rheumatism 2006 May;54;1435-9 — 2006 May — 1435-9

Savage RL, Highton J, Boyd IW, Chapman P

Pneumonitis associated with leflunomide: a profile of New Zealand and Australian reports.

Internal medicine journal 2006 Mar;36;162-9 — 2006 Mar — 162-9

Ito S, Sumida T

Interstitial lung disease associated with leflunomide.

Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) 2004 Dec;43;1103-4 — 2004 Dec — 1103-4