title: Determining the Lowest Optimally Effective Methotrexate Dose for Individual RA Patients Using Their Dose Response Relation in a Tight Control Treatment Approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the optimal methotrexate dose in individual patients and to explore whether this optimal dose and the level of disease activity at that dose could be predicted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from CAMERA II trial comparing MTX and MTX with 10 mg of prednisone both in a tight control treatment strategy in early RA was used. For each patient a curve for disease activity over time was fitted and the MTX dose after which further step-up did not result in relevant improvement in disease activity anymore was determined the 'lowest optimally effective MTX dose (LOED)'. The association of demographic and clinical characteristics at baseline with this LOED and with the level of disease activity reached at LOED was studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 204 (100 MTX and 104 MTX with prednisone) out of 236 patients LOED could be defined. 10 mg/wk was the most prevalent LOED in patients treated with MTX and prednisone and 10 mg/wk, 20 mg/wk and 30 mg/wk in the MTX strategy. Although the specific LOED could not reliably be predicted, higher baseline disease activity, height and lower weight were associated with higher LOEDs (i.e at least 15 mg/wk). A score was presented to decide on a starting dose of 10 mg/wk or (at least) 15 mg/wk. The level of disease activity at LOED could not be reliably predicted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A starting dose of 10 mg/wk might be a good choice for most patients and is frequently already the optimal dose. However, a subgroup of patient can be determined who would require higher MTX doses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sandhya C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johannes W G
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marije F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Tergooi hospital, Hilversum, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Z Nazira
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Jahangier
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johannes W J
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bijlsma
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jacobs M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: van Laar
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Floris P J G
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Lafeber
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Paco M J
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Welsing
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate