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OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of oral methotrexate (MTX) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a long-term prospective trial. METHODS One hundred twenty-three patients with RA who completed a 9-month multicenter randomized trial comparing MTX and auranofin enrolled in this 5-year prospective study of MTX. RESULTS Significant (P = 0.0001) improvement compared with baseline was noted in all clinical disease variables, functional status, and the Westergren erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). "Marked improvement" occurred in 87 (71%) and 85 (69%) of the patients, respectively, in the joint pain/tenderness index and the joint swelling index at the last evaluable visit. Forty-four patients (36%) withdrew during the study. Eight (7%) withdrew due to lack of efficacy, and 8 (7%) due to adverse experiences, including 1 patient with cirrhosis. At 5 years, 64% of patients were still taking MTX and completed the study. CONCLUSIONS This large prospective study of long-term MTX treatment demonstrates sustained clinical response and improvement in the Westergren ESR and functional assessment scores, with an acceptable toxicity profile.
M E Weinblatt, and
H Kaplan, and
B F Germain, and
S Block, and
S D Solomon, and
R C Merriman, and
F Wolfe, and
B Wall, and
L Anderson, and
E Gall
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M E Weinblatt, and
H Kaplan, and
B F Germain, and
S Block, and
S D Solomon, and
R C Merriman, and
F Wolfe, and
B Wall, and
L Anderson, and
E Gall
September 1990,
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M E Weinblatt, and
H Kaplan, and
B F Germain, and
S Block, and
S D Solomon, and
R C Merriman, and
F Wolfe, and
B Wall, and
L Anderson, and
E Gall
March 2002,
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M E Weinblatt, and
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F Wolfe, and
B Wall, and
L Anderson, and
E Gall
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M E Weinblatt, and
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F Wolfe, and
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L Anderson, and
E Gall
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M E Weinblatt, and
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F Wolfe, and
B Wall, and
L Anderson, and
E Gall
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L Anderson, and
E Gall
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H Kaplan, and
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R C Merriman, and
F Wolfe, and
B Wall, and
L Anderson, and
E Gall
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Clinical rheumatology,
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H Kaplan, and
B F Germain, and
S Block, and
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R C Merriman, and
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B Wall, and
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Polskie Archiwum Medycyny Wewnetrznej,
