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Methotrexate in Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Update
Author(s) -
Miller Donald R.,
Letendre Peter W.,
DeJong Douglas J.,
Fiechtner Justus J.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1002/j.1875-9114.1986.tb03472.x
Subject(s) - methotrexate , rheumatoid arthritis , medicine , adverse effect , refractory (planetary science) , clinical trial , disease , arthritis , pharmacology , intensive care medicine , astrobiology , physics
Methotrexate, a folic acid antagonist, is being employed more frequently in an attempt to control rheumatoid arthritis that has not responded adequately to conventional therapies. Systemic administration of 7.5–15 mg weekly in a pulse fashion appears to be effective without precipitating serious adverse effects. Concern over potentially serious adverse effects and lack of well‐controlled clinical trials have limited its use to severe, refractory disease. Its use in the future is likely to increase in these patients because of its ease of administration and the high response rate noted in clinical studies.