Pattern of drugs use and association with anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin antibody in rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the pattern of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) use in Saudi and non-Saudi rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and to evaluate the association of DMARDs use with anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin (anti-MCV) positivity and other factors.


METHODS
Retrospectively, for a period of 7 years (2007-2014), we studied 205 RA patients, at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. All patients used DMARDs. Pattern of use for all 6 DMARDs was almost the same among Saudis and non-Saudis with no significant difference (p>0.05) for each DMARD; MTX was the most commonly used DMARD (71-76%).


RESULTS
There was no association between anti-MCV positivity and different DMARDs use. Methotrexate was used 76 times as combination, scoring the highest in this respect. There was a significant correlation (p<0.05) between Plaquenil with Methotrexate and with Sulfasalazine; Leflunomide with anti-TNF and with Prednisolone; age with Methotrexate and with Plaquenil; anti-MCV positivity with Prednisolone. Saudi/non-Saudi status showed no correlation with all factors or drugs. There was no significant association between DMARDs and comorbidity.


CONCLUSIONS
Similar to worldwide results, MTX was the most commonly used DMARD; with the addition of anti-TNF to increase the effect, and folic acid to minimize the side effects. In this cohort, the pattern of use for all DMARDs was similar among Saudis and non-Saudis; treatment depended neither on anti-MCV positivity nor on the presence of comorbid conditions. A study of the association of DMARDs with disease activity is recommended.
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80205, Jeddah 21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tel. +966 (12) 6400000 Ext. 21116. Fax. +966 (12) 6400000 Ext. 20742. E-mail. aymansafi3@hotmail.com.
Mohammad-Ayman A
MA
Safi
Omar A
OA
Fathaldin
D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002956:Citrulline / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014746:Vimentin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D014746:Vimentin; D002956:Citrulline