Effects of methotrexate on radiologic progression in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Objective. To assess the effects of methotrexate (MTX) therapy on radiologic progression in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Methods. We evaluated serial wrist radiographs for carpal length in 23 JRA patients with bilateral wrist involvement, before and during MTX treatment. These carpal length...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Arthritis and rheumatism 1993-10, Vol.36 (10), p.1370-1374
Main Authors: Harel, Liora, Wagner‐Weiner, Linda, Poznanski, Andrew K., Spencer, Charles H., Ekwo, Edem, Magilavy, Daniel B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arthritis, Juvenile - diagnostic imaging
Arthritis, Juvenile - drug therapy
Arthritis, Juvenile - physiopathology
Arthrography
Biological and medical sciences
Bones, joints and connective tissue. Antiinflammatory agents
Carpal Bones - diagnostic imaging
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Methotrexate - therapeutic use
Movement
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Wrist Joint - diagnostic imaging
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Summary:Objective. To assess the effects of methotrexate (MTX) therapy on radiologic progression in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Methods. We evaluated serial wrist radiographs for carpal length in 23 JRA patients with bilateral wrist involvement, before and during MTX treatment. These carpal length measurements were compared with established norms for carpal length in a healthy pediatric population. Results. Both clinical responders to MTX (17 of 23 patients) and nonresponders (6 of 23) had decreasing carpal length prior to initiation of the treatment. Eleven of the 17 clinical responders had improved carpal length after a mean of 2.5 years of MTX treatment. All 6 clinical nonresponders had progressive loss of carpal length. Conclusion. MTX treatment resulted in radiologic improvement, as measured by carpal length, in the majority of children with JRA who had a clinical response to MTX.
ISSN:0004-3591
1529-0131
DOI:10.1002/art.1780361007