Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Preliminary Study on Acupuncture Combined with Grain-sized Moxibustion for Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis with Finger Joint Pain
Published on: May 16, 2025
[Methotrexate osteopathy-a critical review]
Jürgen Braun1,2, Björn Buehring3,4
1Rheumatologisches Versorgungszentrum Steglitz, Schloßstr. 110, 12163, Berlin, Deutschland. j.braun@rvz-steglitz.de.
Abstract:
The antimetabolite methotrexate (MTX) was originally used in chemotherapeutic treatment for cancer. Since the early 1980s, MTX has become indispensable in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and is established worldwide as the standard of care for the treatment of many inflammatory rheumatic diseases. The mechanism of action of MTX is not completely understood; the adenosine signaling pathway likely plays a role. There are several undesired side-effects associated with MTX (e.g., nausea, elevated transaminase levels, and cytopenia). Based on numerous case reports, it is also postulated that there is MTX-induced osteopathy, which manifests as bone pain and insufficiency fractures. The present article presents the current data and evaluates it critically.
Related Concept Videos
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Affecting Factors
Phase II Reactions: Methylation Reactions
The mechanism of methylation unfolds in two stages. The first stage sees a methyltransferase enzyme facilitating the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the substrate, forming S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). The second stage involves further metabolism of SAH into homocysteine, which can be recycled...
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...

