Does methotrexate have no beneficial effect in reducing flares in the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica patients?

• Published in: Rheumatology international 2021-07, Vol.41 (7), p.1371-1372
• Main Authors: Matsushita, Sho, Taito, Shunsuke, Yamamoto, Norio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Correspondence; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Rheumatology
• ISSN: 0172-8172; 1437-160X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00296-021-04856-w

We read the article by Marsman et al. regarding the efficacy of methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) with great interest. This study added new insights regarding the use of MTX in a real-world clinical setting and its effect on the incidence rates of flares. However, we would like to voice our concerns regarding the definition of the participants and interventions that were performed in the study, as well as the comparability of the intervention and control groups. Our concerns include the possibility of the inadvertent enrollment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in a study on PMR, a lack of a clear definition of glucocorticoid ineffectiveness, a lack of adjustment of glucocorticoid dosages, and a reliance on the judgement of individual medical providers rather than clearly defined investigative guidelines in the study procedures. To summarize, we would like to voice concerns about how and to whom MTX was prescribed, as well as the definition of the control group. These revisions and modifications would clarify the importance of the results regarding the efficacy of MTX administration in the treatment of PMR.