Common Arthritis Drugs Show Promise in Treating Systemic Sjögren's Disease

A clinical trial coordinated by UMC Utrecht has demonstrated that a combination of leflunomide and hydroxychloroquine effectively reduces disease activity in patients with systemic Sjögren's disease within 24 weeks. This breakthrough is significant because it offers patients with moderate-to-severe disease an affordable treatment option using widely available anti-rheumatic medications. The study showed favorable results while maintaining a good safety profile, providing hope for the thousands of Sjögren's patients who previously had limited effective treatment options. This dual-drug approach represents the first effective therapy specifically validated for systemic manifestations of this autoimmune condition.