title: The effect of long-term methotrexate therapy on hepatic fibrosis in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the progression of hepatic fibrosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with methotrexate (MTX).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients receiving MTX for RA were prospectively studied by electron microscopic analysis of biopsy specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five of the 15 patients had evidence of increased hepatic collagen after 2 years of MTX therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatic fibrosis may progress in a subgroup of RA patients treated with MTX.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, University of Utah College of Medicine, Salt Lake City.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bjorkman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boschert
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Tolman
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Clegg
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001706:Biopsy; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen; D008727:Methotrexate