Abstract

Leflunomide is a new type of immunosuppressive agent for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and good efficacy has been obtained in clinical practice. These past years, leflunomide has been used for treatments of not only rheumatoid arthritis but also glomerulonephritis and ankylosing spondylitis. A case is presented that a male patient diagnosed ankylosing spondylitis and treated with leflunomide experienced tuberculosis of lymph nodes. The side effects of leflunomide were suspected and a literature review is followed. It was concluded that tuberculosis infection in this case might be a result of leflunomide therapy partly. Clinical concern should be put to inpatients treated with leflunomide.
 
Key words: Tuberculosis, leflunomide, side effect.