Methotrexate in severe ankylosing spondylitis: an open study

To study the efficacy and toxicity of methotrexate (MTX) for patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in a 36 week, open, single observer study. Patients were selected for study if they had evidence of active disease and had failed to respond to treatment with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (N...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of rheumatology Vol. 22; no. 6; p. 1104
Main Authors Creemers, M C, Franssen, M J, van de Putte, L B, Gribnau, F W, van Riel, P L
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Canada 01.06.1995
Subjects
Adolescent
Adrenal Cortex Hormones - therapeutic use
Adult
Female
Humans
Male
Methotrexate - adverse effects
Methotrexate - therapeutic use
Middle Aged
Spondylitis, Ankylosing - drug therapy
Spondylitis, Ankylosing - physiopathology
Sulfasalazine - therapeutic use
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:To study the efficacy and toxicity of methotrexate (MTX) for patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in a 36 week, open, single observer study. Patients were selected for study if they had evidence of active disease and had failed to respond to treatment with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) and sulfasalazine. Eleven patients entered the study, and 9 were evaluated at the end. Oral MTX (7.5-15 mg weekly) was given for at least 24 weeks; NSAID were kept at a stable dose. Efficacy was evaluated by calculating the relative difference of assessed variable between Week 0 and 24 and by patient evaluation. Assessed variables showed good relative improvement. Four patients decided to continue MTX; 3 used a lower dose of NSAID; one stopped NSAID: Five patient patients discontinued MTX: 3 of these had disease flares and restarted MTX. Side effects were mild and reversible. Results of our study showed that the majority of our patients with AS taking MTX had beneficial effects.
ISSN:0315-162X