Frequency of relapse after discontinuation of methotrexate therapy for clinical remission in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the outcome of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) who discontinued taking methotrexate (MTX) therapy after the achievement of clinical remission.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective review of the clinical course of all consecutive patients with JRA treated with MTX at our department.


RESULTS
Seventeen of the 30 patients who responded to treatment entered clinical remission 6 to 30 mo after beginning MTX therapy. All patients were discontinued from MTX within 2 to 5 mo. Five patients relapsed within 9 mo, whereas 12 patients had sustained remission for 12 mo or longer. Four of 5 children with extended pauciarticular JRA relapsed early after MTX discontinuation. These patients were less responsive to a further cycle of MTX, and 3 showed progression of radiographic joint lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that MTX should be continued in patients with extended pauciarticular JRA even after the achievement of clinical remission.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D008727:Methotrexate