Dermatological guidelines for monitoring methotrexate treatment reduce drug-survival compared to rheumatological guidelines.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Methotrexate (MTX) is widely used as disease modifying treatment for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Rheumatological and dermatological guidelines to prevent MTX-induced adverse events diverge in the number and frequency of blood tests. These differences are not based on evidence indicating a higher risk for patients with psoriasis compared to PsA or rheumatic arthritis (RA). This raises the question if multiple testing increases safety, or results in false positive signals potentially leading to early withdrawal of an effective treatment.

Objective

Compare the effects of MTX monitoring strategies by rheumatologists and dermatologists regarding drug survival, reasons for withdrawal and safety.

Methods

Retrospective follow-up of all patients diagnos

SUBMITTER: Busger Op Vollenbroek FTM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5865732 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature