title: Intestinal absorption in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Fazakerley Hospital, Liverpool, U.K.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Phelan
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Heyningen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D014994:Xylose; D008727:Methotrexate