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. 2004 Jun 18;64(2):207–211. doi: 10.1136/ard.2004.023408

Long term safety of methotrexate in routine clinical care: discontinuation is unusual and rarely the result of laboratory abnormalities

Y Yazici 1, T Sokka 1, H Kautiainen 1, C Swearingen 1, I Kulman 1, T Pincus 1
PMCID: PMC1755366  PMID: 15208176

Abstract

Objective: To analyse patients with rheumatoid arthritis, treated with methotrexate in a weekly academic rheumatology clinic over 13 years, for continuation of courses and reasons for discontinuation.

Methods: All 248 patients with an analysable longitudinal course who took methotrexate in standard care between 1990 and 2003 were studied. Continuation of courses was analysed using life tables. All abnormal and severely abnormal values for aspartate aminotransferase (AST) >40 U/l, >80 U/l, albumin <35 g/l, <30 g/l, white blood cell (WBC) count <4.0x109/l, <3.0x109/l, and platelet count <150x109/l, <100x109/l, were identified. Responses of the clinician and subsequent laboratory values were reviewed.

Results: Over 1007 person-years, the probability of continuing methotrexate over five years was 79% (95% confidence interval, 72% to 84%). Severe laboratory abnormalities occurred in 2.9 per 100 person-years, specifically 0.9 for AST >80 U/l, 1.1 for albumin <30 g/l, 0.7 for WBC <3.0x109/l, and 0.3 for platelets <100x109/l. No severe laboratory abnormality progressed to further severity or clinical disease. Permanent discontinuations of methotrexate occurred in 46 patients (19%), 26 (10% of all patients) for adverse effects, 15 (32.6%) for inefficacy; only two discontinuations resulted from laboratory abnormalities, both of WBC, possibly from other sources.

Conclusions: Methotrexate was associated with a high rate of continuation, and few clinically significant laboratory abnormalities. Discontinuation primarily reflected clinical rather than laboratory findings. Vigilance for methotrexate toxicity is required but methotrexate appears among the safest treatments for rheumatoid arthritis.

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Figure 1.

Figure 1

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 Cumulative probability (with 95% confidence interval) for continuation of methotrexate treatment in 248 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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