Durability of treatment with methotrexate in Venezuelan patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
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.
Sánchez
Gloris
G
Centro Nacional de Enfermedades Reumáticas, Ministerio de Salud, Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Universitario de Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela.
Castro
Julio S
JS
Snih
Soham Al
SA
Blanco
Luísa Pérez
LP
Esteva
María H
MH
Macgregor
Ernesto García
EG
González
Marielena
M
Granados
Ysabel
Y
Marín
Francisco
F
Rosas
Alexis
A
Tristano
Antonio
A
Chirinos
Esther
E
Mundaraín
Luís
L
Sanoja
Gilberto
G
Zambrano-Marín
Guisela
G
Rodríguez
Martín A
MA
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
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007555:Isoxazoles; D000077339:Leflunomide; D008727:Methotrexate