Efficacia e tollerabilità del methotrexate nel trattamento dell'artrite reumatoide
(1998) In La Clinical terapeutica 149(2). p.14-109- Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To verify, in an open study, the efficacy and safety of long-term administration of low weekly doses (5 mg) of methotrexate (MTX) i.m. in different stage rheumatoid arthritis patients.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study has been performed for 24 months in 42 patients (37 females and 5 males), fulfilling the ARA criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. Main functional parameters, main serological data and some immunology indexes were periodically monitored (after 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months of therapy); moreover, some instrumental exams (X-ray of involved joints, liver ultrasound, respiratory function tests) have been performed.
RESULTS: Thirty of 42 enrolled patients completed the whole 24 month therapy, and 22 are still... (More)
OBJECTIVE: To verify, in an open study, the efficacy and safety of long-term administration of low weekly doses (5 mg) of methotrexate (MTX) i.m. in different stage rheumatoid arthritis patients.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study has been performed for 24 months in 42 patients (37 females and 5 males), fulfilling the ARA criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. Main functional parameters, main serological data and some immunology indexes were periodically monitored (after 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months of therapy); moreover, some instrumental exams (X-ray of involved joints, liver ultrasound, respiratory function tests) have been performed.
RESULTS: Thirty of 42 enrolled patients completed the whole 24 month therapy, and 22 are still using methotrexate. Results were as follows: therapeutic remission in one patient, marked improvement in 12 cases, moderate improvement in 16 and worsening in 1. Among the 12 remaining patients, 2 refused further treatment; 6 and 4 patients were withdrawn from the study because of inefficacy and toxicity, respectively. A significant improvement was observed in all of the main efficacy parameters taken into consideration. Moderate and reversible side effects were registered in 23 patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the value of MTX in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. In our opinion this drug is very effective even in a relatively early stage of the disease, mainly in patients whose genetic and clinical markers may predict a more aggressive and severe outcome.
(Less)
- author
- Pappalardo, A ; Sallì, L and Compagno, M LU
- alternative title
- Efficacy and tolerability of methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
- publishing date
- 1998-10-22
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- keywords
- Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy, Female, Humans, Male, Methotrexate/therapeutic use, Treatment Outcome
- in
- La Clinical terapeutica
- volume
- 149
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 14 - 109
- publisher
- Societa Editrice Universo
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:9780474
- scopus:0031595336
- ISSN
- 0009-9074
- language
- Italian
- LU publication?
- no
- id
- d35d0deb-2ade-4030-840a-d728e2647409
- date added to LUP
- 2020-07-17 09:34:37
- date last changed
- 2024-01-02 14:56:45
@article{d35d0deb-2ade-4030-840a-d728e2647409,
abstract = {{<p>OBJECTIVE: To verify, in an open study, the efficacy and safety of long-term administration of low weekly doses (5 mg) of methotrexate (MTX) i.m. in different stage rheumatoid arthritis patients.</p><p>PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study has been performed for 24 months in 42 patients (37 females and 5 males), fulfilling the ARA criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. Main functional parameters, main serological data and some immunology indexes were periodically monitored (after 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months of therapy); moreover, some instrumental exams (X-ray of involved joints, liver ultrasound, respiratory function tests) have been performed.</p><p>RESULTS: Thirty of 42 enrolled patients completed the whole 24 month therapy, and 22 are still using methotrexate. Results were as follows: therapeutic remission in one patient, marked improvement in 12 cases, moderate improvement in 16 and worsening in 1. Among the 12 remaining patients, 2 refused further treatment; 6 and 4 patients were withdrawn from the study because of inefficacy and toxicity, respectively. A significant improvement was observed in all of the main efficacy parameters taken into consideration. Moderate and reversible side effects were registered in 23 patients.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the value of MTX in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. In our opinion this drug is very effective even in a relatively early stage of the disease, mainly in patients whose genetic and clinical markers may predict a more aggressive and severe outcome.</p>}},
author = {{Pappalardo, A and Sallì, L and Compagno, M}},
issn = {{0009-9074}},
keywords = {{Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy; Female; Humans; Male; Methotrexate/therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome}},
language = {{ita}},
month = {{10}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{14--109}},
publisher = {{Societa Editrice Universo}},
series = {{La Clinical terapeutica}},
title = {{Efficacia e tollerabilità del methotrexate nel trattamento dell'artrite reumatoide}},
volume = {{149}},
year = {{1998}},
}