REVIEW PAPER
Concentration of methotrexate in red blood cells and its relevance for disease
activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
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Submission date: 2013-02-18
Final revision date: 2013-05-22
Acceptance date: 2013-08-21
Online publication date: 2013-10-31
Publication date: 2013-10-30
Reumatologia 2013;51(5):370-374
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ABSTRACT
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, characterized by inflammation of the symmetrical joints, multi-organ complications, flares and complete or partial remission periods, which results in disability and increased mortality. Methotrexate (MTX) remains the first-line therapy for active RA. In red blood cells (RBC) MTX is transformed into methotrexate polyglutamates (MTXPG). Disease activity and treatment results are strongly associated with methotrexate polyglutamate concentrations in red blood cells. The article presents the correlation between the route of administration of the treatment, RBC MTXPG concentration and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Also, the impact of genetic polymorphism in the folate-purine-pyrimidine pathway on effects of MTX therapy is stressed.
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