Efficacy and safety of 10-deazaaminopterin in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. A one-year continuation, double-blind study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the long-term safety and efficacy of 10-deazaaminopterin (10-DAM) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
A 1-year continuation of an initial 15-week randomized, double-blind clinical trial of 10-DAM and methotrexate (MTX).


RESULTS
10-DAM (n = 10) and MTX (n = 8) had comparable safety and efficacy profiles. One 10-DAM-treated and 2 MTX-treated patients experienced transient side effects; 1 MTX-treated patient experienced recurrent nausea and discontinued MTX.


CONCLUSIONS
10-DAM appears to be as beneficial and as safe as MTX for the treatment of RA.
Alarcón
G S
GS
Department of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294.
Castañeda
O
O
Ferrándiz
M
M
Krumdieck
C L
CL
Koopman
W J
WJ
D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000630:Aminopterin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged
D005492:Folic Acid; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000630:Aminopterin; C017178:10-deazaaminopterin; D008727:Methotrexate