title: Durability of treatment with methotrexate in Venezuelan patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: A multicenter, national, retrospective, and cross-sectional study of 219 hospital-based Venezuelan patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was aimed to evaluate the probability of continuity of treatment with oral methotrexate (MTX). Treatment survival decreased from 92% at 12 months to 42% at 180 months, as assessed by life table analysis and the Kaplan-Meier method. Forty-seven patients stopped treatment and adverse effects (29.7%) and lack of continuous access to medication (19.1%) were the most common causes for withdrawal. MTX survival was decreased in the group with combined MTX plus leflunomide therapy, as shown by the log-rank test. Venezuelan patients with RA have a probability of continuing treatment with oral MTX comparable to non-Hispanic patient populations. However, concomitant use of leflunomide may increase the risk of interruption of MTX treatment in this RA population.
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Enfermedades Reumáticas, Ministerio de Salud, Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Universitario de Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Gloris
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Julio S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Soham Al
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Snih
authors.forename: Luísa Pérez
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: María H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Esteva
authors.forename: Ernesto García
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Macgregor
authors.forename: Marielena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Ysabel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Granados
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosas
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tristano
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chirinos
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mundaraín
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sanoja
authors.forename: Guisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zambrano-Marín
authors.forename: Martín A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D000077339:Leflunomide; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007555:Isoxazoles; D000077339:Leflunomide; D008727:Methotrexate