EVALUATION OF EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF METHOTREXATE IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS
Dr. Jalpa Suthar* and Nilay Patel
ABSTRACT
Objective: To study efficacy and safety of methotrexate treatment alone prescribed in treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: In prospective observational study, 38 patients with active Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) were randomized to methotrexate (dose 15mg/week). After 8 weeks of treatment period, safety and efficacy parameters were observed in all the patients. The primary efficacy parameters were C reactive protein (CRP), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), tender and swollen joint count, and subject assessment of pain, Subject and Physician global assessment of disease activity, Health assessment questionnaire and secondary efficacy parameters were Morning stiffness and rheumatoid Factor. American College of Rheumatology (ACR) core data set was also used to assess the disease activity measure in RA.[10] Result: All primary efficacy parameters for all the 38 patients showed significant (P<0.05) improvement after 8 weeks of treatment and also for secondary parameters except for Rheumatoid Factor (P=0.342). The common adverse event occurred were nausea, gastric acidity, fever, headache and gastric irritation. Conclusion: Methotrexate (15mg/week) is an effective drug in treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and has an acceptable toxicity profile.
Keywords: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Methotrexate, American College of Rheumatology (ACR), Subject and Physician global assessment of disease activity.
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