Cui X, et al. - Via the East China Takayasu arteritis (TA, a type of chronic nonspecific large-vessel vasculitis, characterised by granulomatous inflammation in the vessel wall of the aorta and its major branches) cohort study, a real-world prospective study on 56 patients treated with leflunomide (LEF) for at least 3 months, the researchers evaluated the efficacy and safety of LEF as induction treatment in a series of TA patients. During the whole follow-up, 48 patients continued LEF treatment. Adverse events noted were diarrhea in 2 patients, liver dysfunctioning in 2 patients, and a rash in 1 patient which lead the patient to switch to other immunosuppressive agents. Furthermore, 1 patient died from the progression of TA after 2 months and 2 relapsed patients were reported. Hence, a quick induction and sustained remission of TA, especially in refractory cases were found in patients under LEF treatment, suggesting that it should be considered as an alternative treatment for TA.