Table 2.
Prevalence of MTX-related gastrointestinal symptoms in all patients and in intolerant patients by route of MTX administration
| All patients | Tolerant to MTX | Intolerant to MTX | Oral MTX | Parenteral MTX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total |
291 (100) |
259 (89.0) |
32 (11.0) |
194 (66.7) |
97 (33.3) |
| Cutoff score ≥6 |
32 (11.0) |
0 (0) |
32 (100) |
12 (6.2) |
20 (20.6)a |
| Abdominal pain |
44 (15.1) |
24 (9.3) |
20 (62.5) |
7 (58.3) |
13 (65.0) |
| After MTX |
33 (11.3) |
18 (6.9) |
15 (46.9) |
5 (41.7) |
10 (50.0) |
| Anticipatory |
17 (5.8) |
5 (1.9) |
12 (37.5) |
5 (41.7) |
7 (35.0) |
| Associative |
17 (5.8) |
6 (2.3) |
11 (34.4) |
4 (33.3) |
7 (35.0) |
| Nausea |
100 (34.4) |
68 (26.3) |
32 (100) |
12 (100) |
20 (100) |
| After MTX |
93 (32.0) |
61 (23.6) |
32 (100) |
12 (100) |
20 (100) |
| Anticipatory |
25 (8.6) |
7 (2.7) |
18 (56.3) |
6 (50.0) |
12 (60.0) |
| Associative |
32 (11.0) |
15 (5.8) |
17 (53.1) |
5 (41.7) |
12 (60.0) |
| Vomiting |
22 (7.6) |
11 (4.2) |
11 (34.4) |
5 (41.7) |
6 (30.0) |
| After MTX |
19 (6.5) |
9 (3.5) |
10 (31.3) |
5 (41.7) |
5 (25.0) |
| Anticipatory |
5 (1.7) |
0 (0) |
5 (15.6) |
2 (16.7) |
3 (15.0) |
| Behavioural symptoms |
48 (16.5) |
22 (8.5) |
26 (81.3) |
7 (58.3) |
19 (95.0)b |
| Restlessness |
38 (13.1) |
16 (6.2) |
22 (68.8) |
6 (50.0) |
16 (80) |
| Irritability |
29 (10.0) |
7 (2.7) |
22 (68.8) |
5 (41.7) |
17 (85.0)c |
| Refusal of MTX | 13 (4.5) | 1 (0.4) | 12 (37.5) | 2 (16.7) | 10 (50.0) |
Values are number (%) of patients. All domains and individual items differentiate between tolerant and intolerant patients (P < 0.001). aP < 0.001 versus oral MTX, by chi-square test; bP = 0.02 versus oral MTX, by chi-square test, cP = 0.02 versus oral MTX, by chi-square test. MTX, methotrexate.