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Review
. 2013:124:16-25.

Methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis: a quarter century of development

Michael E Weinblatt  1
Affiliations
Review

Methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis: a quarter century of development

Michael E Weinblatt. Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc. 2013.

Abstract

Methotrexate (MTX) is now the most popular drug worldwide for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Low-dose, weekly MTX (10 to 25 mg/wk) used as either monotherapy or in combination with other drugs has a superior efficacy profile as defined in placebo-controlled trials and comparable efficacy to other drugs including anti-TNF therapy. At 1 year, one third of patients on MTX have no radiographic progression and even greater effects are seen when combined with targeted biological therapies. MTX is well tolerated; gastrointestinal toxicity is the most common toxicity with rarely bone marrow, lung, or liver toxicity. MTX therapy has been a major advance in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and is now the cornerstone of therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Potential Conflicts of Interest: Research Funding from and Consultant to Lederle Laboratories–the manufacturer of MTX (1983–1998); Supported in part by the Raymond P. Lavietes Foundation; Research Funding from and Consultant to Exagen.

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