The synergistic efficacy of hydroxychloroquine with methotrexate is accompanied by increased erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To determine whether concomitant HCQ modulates the increase in erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume (MCV) caused by MTX therapy, and whether this is associated with improved clinical response in RA.

Methods

A retrospective observational analysis was conducted on two independent hospital datasets of biologic-naïve, early-RA patients who started oral MTX. Baseline characteristics, DAS28-ESR and monthly MCV after starting MTX were obtained. Conventional and machine-learning statistical approaches were applied to the discovery cohort (Cohort 1, 655 patients) and results validated using Cohort 2 (225 patients).

Results

HCQ therapy with MTX was associated with a 2-fold increase in the likelihood of response defined in this study as clinical remission or low diseas

SUBMITTER: Shipa MRA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8824424 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature