title: Efficacy of methotrexate in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis: a three-year open study.
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of methotrexate treatment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis in a 3-year open trial. Seventeen patients, 14 men and three women (mean age 32.7+/-8.9 years), suffering from ankylosing spondylitis and non-responders to treatment with sulphasalazine, were enrolled in our study. Sixteen of them were evaluable at the end of the study. Methotrexate (7.5-10 mg/week) was administered for 3 years. Efficacy was evaluated on the basis of clinical and laboratory variables, radiographic signs of disease progression and daily dosage of indomethacin. We obtained a good and relatively prompt clinical response except for peripheral arthritis and iridocyclitis; in fact, after 3 months of methotrexate treatment a significant amelioration of the following parameters was observed: visual analogue scale for the evaluation of both night pain and general well-being, Shober's test, occiput-wall distance, fingertip to floor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level and daily dose of indomethacin. A further improvement was obtained during the subsequent period. Radiographs of the spine and sacroiliac joints did not show any signs of disease progression. Side-effects were a transitory elevation of transaminases (four cases) and slight hypogammaglobulinaemia (one case). Methotrexate treatment may be useful in ankylosing spondylitis, but a combined treatment might be indicated for patients with peripheral arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, University of Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Biasi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carletto
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caramaschi
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pacor
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maleknia
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bambara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012449:Safety; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D007213:Indomethacin; D008727:Methotrexate