Objective To explore and compare the clinical curative effect of tocilizumab and leflunomide in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and to evaluate the safety. Methods From March 2015 to March 2016,70 cases of rheumatoid arthritis treated in the department of rheumatism in this hospital were divided into treatment group and control group by using a random number table method,35 cases in each group.The patients in the observation group were intravenously treated with tocilizumab,at dosage of 8 mg·kg-1,once every four weeks.The control group was treated by oral administration of leflunomide tablets,at 50 mg·d-1from the 1st to 3rd day,and at 20 mg·d-1from the fourth day to the end of the treatment.The treatment period was 24 weeks in the two groups.Joint swelling,joint pain,morning stiffness,ESR,CRP,IL-6 and IL-8 were recorded and compared before and during the treatment.Total effective rate of treatment was compared between the two groups.Adverse drug reaction was recorded and the incidence of adverse drug reactions was compared. Results After the treatment,joint swelling, joint pain,morning stiffness,ESR,CRP,IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly lower in the treatment group than those in the control group (P<0.05).After the treatment,the total effective rate of the treatment was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05).After the treatment,incidence of adverse reaction was significantly lower in the treatment group than that in the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion Tocilizumab and leflunomide has certain curative effect in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, but tocilizumab is more effective,with low incidence of adverse reaction and a high clinical value.