title: Effect of folic or folinic acid supplementation on the toxicity and efficacy of methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis: a forty-eight week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of folates on discontinuation of methotrexate (MTX) as single-drug antirheumatic treatment due to toxicity, to determine which type of adverse events are reduced, to study the effects on the efficacy of MTX, and to compare folic with folinic acid supplementation in a 48-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with active RA (n = 434) were randomly assigned to receive MTX plus either placebo, folic acid (1 mg/day), or folinic acid (2.5 mg/week). The initial MTX dosage was 7.5 mg/week; dosage increases were allowed up to a maximum of 25 mg/week for insufficient responses. Folate dosages were doubled once the dosage of MTX reached 15 mg/week. The primary end point was MTX withdrawal because of adverse events. Secondary end points were the MTX dosage and parameters of efficacy and toxicity of MTX.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Toxicity-related discontinuation of MTX occurred in 38% of the placebo group, 17% of the folic acid group, and 12% of the folinic acid group. These between-group differences were explained by a decreased incidence of elevated liver enzyme levels in the folate supplementation groups. No between-group differences were found in the frequency of other adverse events or in the duration of adverse events. Parameters of disease activity improved equally in all groups. Mean dosages of MTX at the end of the study were lower in the placebo group (14.5 mg/week) than in the folic and folinic acid groups (18.0 and 16.4 mg/week, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both folate supplementation regimens reduced the incidence of elevated liver enzyme levels during MTX therapy, and as a consequence, MTX was discontinued less frequently in these patients. Folates seem to have no effect on the incidence, severity, and duration of other adverse events, including gastrointestinal and mucosal side effects. Slightly higher dosages of MTX were prescribed to obtain similar improvement in disease activity in the folate supplementation groups.
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center St Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: van Ede
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Laan
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rood
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Huizinga
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van de Laar
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: van Denderen
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Westgeest
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Romme
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: de Rooij
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: de Boo
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: van der Wilt
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Severens
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Krabbe
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Dijkmans
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Breedveld
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: van de Putte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006397:Hematinics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D006397:Hematinics; D010919:Placebos; D005492:Folic Acid; D002955:Leucovorin; D008727:Methotrexate