METHOTREXATE IN SEVERE ANKYLOSING-SPONDYLITIS - AN OPEN STUDY

Objective. To study the efficacy and toxicity of methotrexate (MTX) fo r patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in a 36 week, open, single observer study.Methods. Patients were selected for study if they had evidence of active disease and had failed to respond to treatment with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) and sulfasalazine. Eleven patients entered the study, and 9 were evaluated at the end. Oral MTX (7.5-15 mg weekly) was given for at least 24 weeks; NSAID were kept a t a stable dose. Efficacy was evaluated by calculating the relative di fference of assessed variables between Weeks 0 and 24 and by patient e valuation. Results. Assessed Variables showed good relative improvemen t. Four patients decided to continue MTX; 3 used a lower dose of NSAID ; one stopped NSAID. Five patients discontinued MTX: 3 of these had di sease flares and restarted MTX. Side effects were mild and reversible. Conclusion. Results of our study showed that the majority of our pati ents with AS taking MTX had beneficial effects.