Review article

Methotrexate – the Gold Standard in Rheumatology

Iva Žagar

Abstract

Methotrexate (MTX) is a structural analogue of folic acid which is used primarily to treat inMammatory rheumatic diseases, with oral or parenteral administration. The efficacy of MTX in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has been demonstrated in several randomized clinical studies and conformed in meta-analyses. Today, MTX represents the golden standard for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The treatment starts at doses between 7.5 and 15 mg per week, with possible dose escalation based on disease activity. Careful patient monitoring reduces the risk of hepatotoxicity and other adverse effects, making MTX the drug of first choice for the treatment of rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis.

Keywords

methotrexate; rheumatoid arthritis; psoriatic arthritis

Hrčak ID:

199425

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/199425

Publication date:

26.4.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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