title: Perioperative use of methotrexate--a survey of clinical practice in the UK.
abstract: We have surveyed the use of methotrexate in the perioperative period in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) undergoing surgery. A total of 200 consultant rheumatologists and 200 consultant orthopaedic surgeons in the UK were sent a postal questionnaire. Thirty-five per cent of rheumatologists and 46% of orthopaedic surgeons were concerned that the drug may increase the risk of post-operative complications, although significantly less 'always' stopped the drug around the time of surgery. There was great variation in the timing of stopping the drug with most stopping treatment within 2 weeks before surgery and restarting within 2 weeks after surgery. The majority of clinicians surveyed (70%) felt that national guidelines for the perioperative use of methotrexate would be helpful.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Northwick Park and St Mark's Hospital, Harrow.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steuer
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Keat
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D008727:Methotrexate