AUTHOR=Long Zhiyong , Zeng Liuting , Yang Kailin , Chen Junpeng , Luo Yanfang , Dai Charles C. , He Qi , Deng Ying , Ge Anqi , Zhu Xiaofei , Hao Wensa , Sun Lingyun 

TITLE=A systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of iguratimod in the treatment of inflammatory arthritis and degenerative arthritis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1440584

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2024.1440584

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Objective</title><p>To assess the efficacy and safety of iguratimod (IGU) in the treatment of inflammatory arthritis and degenerative arthritis.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Initially, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on using IGU in treating inflammatory arthritis and degenerative arthritis were systematically gathered from various databases up to February 2024. Subsequently, two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, assessed the risk of bias in included studies, and conducted a meta-analysis using RevMan 5.4 software.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Fifty-four RCTs involving three inflammatory arthritis were included, including ankylosing spondylitis (AS), osteoarthritis (OA), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). For AS, the meta-analysis results showed that IGU may decrease BASDAI (SMD −1.68 [−2.32, −1.03], <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.00001) and BASFI (WMD −1.29 [−1.47, −1.11], <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.00001); IGU may also decrease inflammatory factor [ESR: (WMD −10.33 [−14.96, −5.70], <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.0001); CRP: (WMD −10.11 [−14.55, −5.66], <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.00001); TNF-α: (WMD −6.22 [−7.97, −4.47], <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.00001)]. For OA, the meta-analysis results showed that IGU may decrease VAS (WMD −2.20 [−2.38, −2.01], <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.00001) and WOMAC (WMD −7.27 [−12.31, −2.24], <italic>P</italic> = 0.005); IGU may also decrease IL-6 (WMD −8.72 [−10.00, −7.45], <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.00001). For RA, the meta-analysis results showed that IGU may improve RA remission rate [ACR20: (RR 1.18 [1.02, 1.35], <italic>P</italic> = 0.02); ACR50: (RR 1.32 [1.05, 1.64], <italic>P</italic> = 0.02); ACR70: (RR 1.44 [1.02, 2.04], <italic>P</italic> = 0.04)] and decrease DAS28 (WMD −0.92 [−1.20, −0.63], <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.00001); IGU may also decrease inflammatory factors [CRP: (SMD −1.36 [−1.75, −0.96], <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.00001); ESR: (WMD −9.09 [−11.80, −6.38], <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.00001); RF: (SMD −1.21 [−1.69, −0.73], <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.00001)]. Regarding safety, adding IGU will not increase the incidence of adverse events.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>IGU might emerge as a promising and secure therapeutic modality for addressing AS, OA, and RA.</p></sec><sec><title>Systematic Review Registration</title><p>Identifier PROSPERO: CRD42021289249</p></sec>