Intestinal absorption in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate.
Twelve patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated for at least 12 months with methotrexate and 11 matched rheumatoid arthritis controls underwent a standard d-xylose absorption test. No patients had any pre-existing clinical of biochemical evidence of malabsorption. No significant difference was observed in the 1 hour plasma d-xylose estimation between methotrexate treated patients and controls. The 2 to 5 hour urinary excretion ratio, however, was significantly lower in the methotrexate-treated group compared with controls indicating a minor degree of malabsorption. Six of the methotrexate treated patients and 5 of the controls underwent endoscopic duodenal biopsy but neither group demonstrated any significant histological changes. In conclusion, methotrexate therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis produces mild intestinal malabsorption.
Phelan
M J
MJ
Rheumatology Unit, Fazakerley Hospital, Liverpool, U.K.
Taylor
W
W
van Heyningen
C
C
Williams
E
E
Thompson
R N
RN
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D004386:Duodenum / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014994:Xylose / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine
D014994:Xylose; D008727:Methotrexate