Rheumatic Disease

Researchers from University Medical Center describe findings in arthritis therapy

Rheumatic Disease Library Library Home This article was published in Pain & Central Nervous System Week, which you can subscribe to online.

"Patients in the intensive treatment group came to the outpatient clinic once every month; adjustment of the MTX dosage was tailored to the individual patient on the basis of predefined response criteria, using a computerised decision program. Patients of the conventional strategy group came to the outpatient clinic once every three months; they were treated according to common practice. Cyclosporine was added if patients had an inadequate response to maximal tolerated MTX doses Seventy six (50%) patients in the intensive strategy group achieved at least one period of remission during the two year trial, versus 55 patients (37%) in the conventional strategy group (p=0.03). Areas under the curve for nearly all clinical variables were significantly lower-that is, there was a better clinical effect for the intensive treatment group compared with the conventional treatment group The results of this study show that it is possible to substantially enhance the clinical efficacy early in the course of the disease by intensifying treatment with MTX, aiming for remission, tailored to the individual patient," wrote S.M. Verstappen and colleagues, University Medical Center.

The researchers concluded: "Furthermore, participating rheumatologists indicated that the computerised decision program could be a helpful tool in their daily clinical practice."

Verstappen and colleagues published their study in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (Intensive treatment with methotrexate in early rheumatoid arthritis: aiming for remission. Computer Assisted Management in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (CAMERA, an open-label strategy trial). Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2007;66(11):1443-9).

For additional information, contact S.M. Verstappen, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.

The publisher's contact information for the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases is: B M J Publishing Group, British Med Association House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR, England.

Keywords: Netherlands, Utrecht, Arthritis Therapy, Arthritis, Drugs, Methotrexate Sodium, Pharmaceuticals, Rheumatic Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Therapy, Treatment.

This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.