[The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with low dose pulse methotrexate--comparative study with other disease...

Low dose pulse methotrexate (MTX, 5-7.5mg/week) was administered to fifty one patients with severe and active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who did not respond to the various disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 30 months. As to efficacy rate and probability of patients continuing therapy, the results of MTX were compared with those of the other DMARDs (131 cases of bucillamine (BU), 163 of D-penicillamine (DP), 98 of salazopyrin (SASP), 126 of auranofin (AF), 55 of lobenzarit (CCA)). The patients treated with MTX showed remarkable improvement within 1 or 2 months in Lansbury's index items, CRP, immunoglobulin levels and rheumatoid factor values. But OKT4/8 ratio remained unchanged throughout the study period. As to the adverse reactions due to MTX an elevation of serum transaminase occurred most frequently (41.2%). MTX treatment was, however, tolerable to the most cases with its transient discontinuance or its dose reduction. The efficacy rate of MTX (71.4%) was the best among above mentioned DMARDs at the end of 6 months treatment. After treatment of 24 months, the probability of still taking MTX (70.1%) proved to be about the same with that of DP and better than that of BU, SASP, AF and CCA. In conclusion low dose pulse MTX turned out to be effective in the treatment of severe and active rheumatoid arthritis.