A randomized trial of parenteral methotrexate comparing an intermediate dose with a higher dose in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis who failed to respond to standard doses of methotrexate.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the safety and efficacy of parenteral methotrexate (MTX) at an intermediate dosage (15 mg/m(2)/week) versus a higher dosage (30 mg/m(2)/week) in patients with polyarticular-course juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who failed to improve while receiving standard dosages of MTX (8-12.5 mg/m(2)/week).


METHODS
In the screening phase, 595 patients who were newly started on a standard dose of MTX were followed up for 6 months. Subsequently, the nonresponders, defined according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) pediatric 30% improvement criteria (pediatric 30), were randomized to receive an intermediate dose or higher dose of parenteral MTX for an additional 6 months. Improvement in the screening and randomization phase was defined by the ACR pediatric 30 response, as well as by the 50% and 70% response levels (ACR pediatric 50 and ACR pediatric 70, respectively).


RESULTS
In the screening phase, after receiving standard doses of MTX, 430 patients (72%) improved according to the ACR pediatric 30, while 360 (61%) met the ACR pediatric 50 and 225 (38%) met the ACR pediatric 70; among these patients, 69 (12%) also met the definition of complete disease control. Of the 133 nonresponders, 80 were randomized to receive an intermediate dose or higher dose of MTX. In the randomization phase, the ACR pediatric 30 response rate was 25 of 40 children (62.5%) in the intermediate-dose group versus 23 of 40 children (57.5%) in the higher-dose group. An ACR pediatric 50 response rate was attained by 23 patients (57.5%) receiving an intermediate dose versus 22 (55%) in the higher-dose group. An ACR pediatric 70 response rate was seen in 18 children (45%) receiving an intermediate dose versus 19 (47.5%) receiving a higher dose. Five children (12.5%) in the intermediate-dose group versus 4 (10%) receiving the higher dose of MTX also met the definition of complete disease control. None of the intergroup differences in response rate were significant. There were no significant differences in the frequency of adverse events or laboratory abnormalities between the 2 randomized groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that the plateau of efficacy of MTX in JIA is reached with parenteral administration of 15 mg/m(2)/week and that a further increase in dosage is not associated with any additional therapeutic benefit. MTX should be administered for up to 9-12 months to appreciate its full therapeutic effect.
Ruperto
Nicolino
N
IRCCS G. Gaslini, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. nicolaruperto@ospedale-gaslini.ge.it
Murray
Kevin J
KJ
Gerloni
Valeria
V
Wulffraat
Nico
N
de Oliveira
Sheila Knupp Feitosa
SK
Falcini
Fernanda
F
Dolezalova
Pavla
P
Alessio
Maria
M
Burgos-Vargas
Ruben
R
Corona
Fabrizia
F
Vesely
Richard
R
Foster
Helen
H
Davidson
Joyce
J
Zulian
Francesco
F
Asplin
Line
L
Baildam
Eileen
E
Consuegra
Julia Garcia
JG
Ozdogan
Huri
H
Saurenmann
Rotraud
R
Joos
Rik
R
Pistorio
Angela
A
Woo
Pat
P
Martini
Alberto
A
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D008727:Methotrexate