Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
MTX Therapy (mtx + therapy)
Selected AbstractsApplication of pharmacokinetic,pharmacodynamic modeling to predict the kinetic and dynamic effects of anti-methotrexate antibodies in miceJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 8 2003Evelyn D. Lobo Abstract We have shown that intravenous (iv) administration of anti-methotrexate (MTX) antibodies (AMAb) reduces the systemic exposure of intraperitoneal (ip) MTX therapy, and we have proposed that AMAb effects on MTX systemic exposure would allow a reduction in MTX-induced systemic toxicity (i.e., producing a desirable antagonistic effect). However, many literature reports have shown that anti-toxin antibodies occasionally demonstrate unexpected agonist-like activity, increasing the extent of toxicity induced by their ligand. In this report, we have utilized a pharmacokinetic,pharmacodynamic (PKPD) model to predict the potential of AMAb to increase or decrease the magnitude of MTX-induced body weight loss in mice. Simulations predicted that both anti-MTX immunoglobulin G (AMI) and anti-MTX Fab fragments (AMF) would lead to increases or decreases in MTX toxicity, with effects dependent on the dosing protocol used. Based on the computer simulations, two protocols were selected for in vivo evaluation of predicted agonistic or antagonistic effects. Murine monoclonal AMI and AMF were produced, purified, and characterized. Agonistic effects were tested after 24-h infusion of ip MTX (10 mg/kg) and iv administration of an equimolar dose of AMI. Antagonistic effects were tested after 72-h infusion of ip MTX (5 mg/kg) and iv infusion of an equimolar dose of AMF. Consistent with model predictions of agonist-like activity, the 24-h AMI protocol led to significantly increased animal mortality (all animals died, p,<,0.005) and mean nadir weight loss (p,<,0.005). Also consistent with the predictions of the PKPD model, the 72-h AMF protocol significantly decreased animal mortality and mean nadir body weight loss (p,<,0.01). Thus, these studies demonstrate that agonistic and antagonistic effects of anti-toxin antibodies may be predicted through the use of an integrated PKPD model. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 92:1665,1676, 2003 [source] Methotrexate in psoriasis: 26 years' experience with low-dose long-term treatmentJOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 5 2000U-F. Haustein Abstract Objective,To evaluate the efficacy, safety and side-effects of methotrexate (MTX) in psoriasis. Design,A 26-year retrospective study. Setting,Department of Dermatology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany. Patients,One hundred and fifty-seven patients with extensive plaque psoriasis, erythrodermic, pustular and arthropathic forms, were treated with low-dose methotrexate (15,20 mg maximum weekly dosage [Weinstein schedule]), the majority for long-term periods. The mean cumulative dose was 3394 mg, the mean duration 237 weeks. Results,The effect of MTX treatment was good in 76%, moderate in 18% and poor in 6% of subjects; 61% experienced side-effects, most frequently due to liver function abnormalities, bone marrow suppression, nausea, gastric complaints and hair loss. In 20% of cases the subjects were forced to discontinue therapy; 9% refused therapy due to physical and psychological discomfort, 2% wanted to become pregnant, 16% were lost to follow-up, 6% died from multimorbidity and old age. Three subjects (2%) developed cancer of the lung, breast or cervix uteri, possibly in relation to long-term MTX treatment. Altogether there were no deaths or life-threatening side-effects attributable to MTX treatment, and no cases of progressive liver cirrhosis apart from two extensive skin necroses due to overdosage (misunderstanding, suicidal attempt) that were treated successfully with citrovorum factor. Conclusion,Low-dose MTX (<15,20 mg/week) is an effective therapy for extensive and severe forms of psoriasis if patients are selected carefully and monitored regularly, particularly with respect to liver and bone marrow toxicity. This helps to reduce severe side-effects even during long-term treatment. Drug interactions must be avoided. MTX therapy according to the guidelines is relatively safe and still has a place in the systemic treatment of psoriasis with 40 years of experience and an acceptable safety record. [source] Isolated Central Nervous System Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder Treated with High-Dose Intravenous MethotrexateAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 5 2009L. B. Nabors Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is an uncommon neoplastic complication of kidney transplantation, affecting about 1% of recipients. It is generally associated with Epstein,Barr virus (EBV) infection of B-lineage lymphocytes. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is rare. There is little clinical experience with treatment of CNS PTLD due to the relative rarity of the disease other than reduction or withdrawal of immunosuppression, but it is usually fatal. We describe six patients with renal allografts and histologically proven isolated CNS PTLD. Tissue analysis from the biopsy specimens was positive for EBV material in five of the six patients. All six patients were treated with high-dose intravenous methotrexate (HD IV MTX). Methotrexate was initiated at 8 g/m2, with later adjustments for creatinine clearance. With MTX therapy, four patients have had a sustained complete response, and two had progressive disease and were referred for radiation therapy. This finding suggests a subgroup of patients may benefit from MTX but our case series is inadequate to describe overall efficacy. No unexpected toxicities were encountered in 37 courses of treatment. HD IV MTX chemotherapy should be considered as an alternative for treatment of CNS PTLD. [source] Two-year clinical and radiographic results with combination etanercept,methotrexate therapy versus monotherapy in early rheumatoid arthritis: A two-year, double-blind, randomized study,ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 3 2010Paul Emery Objective To evaluate how continuation of and alterations to initial year 1 combination etanercept,methotrexate (MTX) therapy and MTX monotherapy regimens affect long-term remission and radiographic progression in early, active rheumatoid arthritis. Methods Subjects were randomized at baseline for the entire 2-year period; those who completed 1 year of treatment with combination or MTX monotherapy entered year 2. The original combination group either continued combination therapy (the EM/EM group; n = 111) or received etanercept monotherapy (the EM/E group; n = 111) in year 2; the original MTX monotherapy group either received combination therapy (the M/EM group; n = 90) or continued monotherapy (the M/M group; n = 99) in year 2. Efficacy end points included remission (a Disease Activity Score in 28 joints [DAS28] <2.6) and radiographic nonprogression (change in the modified Sharp/van der Heijde score ,0.5) at year 2. A last observation carried forward analysis from the modified intention-to-treat population (n = 398) and a post hoc nonresponder imputation (NRI) analysis (n = 528) were performed for remission. Results At year 2, DAS28 remission was achieved by 62/108, 54/108, 51/88, and 33/94 subjects in the EM/EM, EM/E, M/EM, and M/M groups, respectively (P < 0.01 for the EM/EM and M/EM groups versus the M/M group). This effect was corroborated by a more conservative post hoc 2-year NRI analysis, with remission observed in 59/131, 50/134, 48/133, and 29/130 of the same respective groups (P < 0.05 for each of the EM/EM, EM/E, and M/EM groups versus the M/M group). The proportions of subjects achieving radiographic nonprogression (n = 360) were 89/99, 74/99, 59/79, and 56/83 in the EM/EM (P < 0.01 versus each of the other groups), EM/E, M/EM, and M/M groups, respectively. No new safety signals or between-group differences in serious adverse events were seen. Conclusion Early sustained combination etanercept,MTX therapy was consistently superior to MTX monotherapy. Combination therapy resulted in important clinical and radiographic benefits over 2 study years, without significant additional safety risk. [source] Methotrexate polyglutamate concentrations are not associated with disease control in rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving long-term methotrexate therapy,ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 2 2010Lisa K. Stamp Objective There are limited data suggesting that methotrexate polyglutamate (MTXGlu) concentrations can guide MTX dosing in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to define a therapeutic range of red blood cell (RBC) MTXGlun concentrations (where n refers to the number of glutamate groups), including threshold values for efficacy and adverse effects in patients receiving long-term oral MTX treatment. Methods A cross-sectional study of 192 patients receiving oral MTX was undertaken. Disease activity was assessed by the swollen and tender joint counts, the C-reactive protein level, and the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28). High disease activity was defined as a DAS28 of >3.2. A standardized questionnaire regarding common MTX adverse effects was completed. Results The MTX dosage was significantly higher in patients in whom the swollen joint count and DAS28 were higher. The MTXGlu4, MTXGlu5, MTXGlu3,5, and MTXGlu1,5 concentrations were significantly higher in patients with high disease activity. After correction for age, the estimated glomerular filtration rate, and the MTX dosage, the association remained significant for MTXGlu5. RBC folate concentrations were significantly higher in the group with high disease activity. There was no association between any MTXGlun concentration and adverse effects. Conclusion In contrast to other studies, the results of the present study did not show a relationship between the MTXGlun concentration and reduced disease activity in patients with RA who were receiving long-term MTX therapy. However, disease activity was influenced by the RBC folate level, which may be a more important factor than MTXGlun concentrations for disease control. In accordance with the findings of previous studies, we were unable to show a relationship between MTXGlun concentrations and adverse effects. Prospective studies will be important to determine whether there is a role for measuring MTXGlun concentrations in patients receiving long-term treatment with MTX. [source] Methotrexate catabolism to 7-hydroxymethotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis alters drug efficacy and retention and is reduced by folic acid supplementationARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 8 2009Joseph E. Baggott Objective To assess the catabolism of methotrexate (MTX) to 7-hydroxy-MTX (7-OH-MTX) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis as well as the effect of folic acid and folinic acid on this catabolism. Methods Urinary excretion of MTX and its catabolite, 7-OH-MTX, was measured in 2 24-hour urine specimens collected after MTX therapy. Urine samples were collected from patients after the sixth and seventh weekly doses of MTX. MTX and 7-OH-MTX concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Swelling and pain/tenderness indices were used to measure symptoms before and at 6 and 7 weeks of therapy. Patients received either folic acid or folinic acid supplements (1 mg/day) from week 6 to week 7. Results Folic acid inhibited aldehyde oxidase (AO), the enzyme that produces 7-OH-MTX, but folinic acid did not. Excretion of 7-OH-MTX (determined as a percentage of the dose of MTX or as mg 7-OH-MTX/gm creatinine) was not normally distributed (n = 39). Patients with marked improvement in swelling and pain/tenderness indices had a lower mean 7-OH-MTX excretion level (P < 0.05). Patients who received folic acid supplements had decreased 7-OH-MTX excretion (P = 0.03). Relatively high 7-OH-MTX excretion was correlated with relatively high MTX excretion and with relatively low MTX retention in vivo (P < 0.05) (n = 35). Conclusion Our findings of a non-normal distribution of 7-OH-MTX excretion suggest that there are at least 2 phenotypes for this catabolism. Decreased 7-OH-MTX formation suggests folic acid inhibition of AO and a better clinical response, while increased 7-OH-MTX formation may interfere with MTX polyglutamylation and binding to enzymes and, therefore, may increase MTX excretion and decrease MTX retention and efficacy in vivo. [source] The effect of methotrexate and anti,tumor necrosis factor therapy on the risk of lymphoma in rheumatoid arthritis in 19,562 patients during 89,710 PERSON-YEARS of observation,ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 5 2007Frederick Wolfe Objective To ascertain the relationship between anti,tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy, methotrexate (MTX), and the risk of lymphoma in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This report updates our previous report during 29,314 person-years of followup. Methods Participants in the National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases (NDB) longitudinal study of long-term outcomes of RA completed semiannual questionnaires from 1998 through 2005, during 89,710 person-years of followup. Lymphoma reports were validated by medical records. The association between lymphoma and treatment was investigated using conditional logistic regression, adjusted for severity and demographic covariates. Results Of the 19,591 participants, 55.3% received biologic agents and 68.0% received MTX while enrolled in the NDB. The lymphoma incidence rate was 105.9 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 86.6,129.5) per 100,000 person-years of exposure. Compared with the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results) lymphoma database, the standardized incidence ratio was 1.8 (95% CI 1.5,2.2). The odds ratio (OR) for lymphoma in patients who received anti-TNF therapy compared with patients who did not receive anti-TNF therapy was 1.0 (95% CI 0.6,1.8 [P = 0.875]). The OR for lymphoma in patients who received anti-TNF plus MTX therapy compared with patients who received MTX treatment alone was 1.1 (95% CI 0.6,2.0 [P = 0.710]). Infliximab and etanercept considered individually also were not associated with a risk of lymphoma. Conclusion In a study of lymphoma in 19,591 RA patients over 89,710 person-years of followup, which included exposure to anti-TNF therapy in 10,815 patients, we did not observe evidence for an increase in the incidence of lymphoma among patients who received anti-TNF therapy. [source] Rituximab for rheumatoid arthritis refractory to anti,tumor necrosis factor therapy: Results of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trial evaluating primary efficacy and safety at twenty-four weeksARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 9 2006Stanley B. Cohen Objective To determine the efficacy and safety of treatment with rituximab plus methotrexate (MTX) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had an inadequate response to anti,tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapies and to explore the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of rituximab in this population. Methods We evaluated primary efficacy and safety at 24 weeks in patients enrolled in the Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Efficacy of Rituximab in RA (REFLEX) Trial, a 2-year, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III study of rituximab therapy. Patients with active RA and an inadequate response to 1 or more anti-TNF agents were randomized to receive intravenous rituximab (1 course, consisting of 2 infusions of 1,000 mg each) or placebo, both with background MTX. The primary efficacy end point was a response on the American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria (ACR20) at 24 weeks. Secondary end points were responses on the ACR50 and ACR70 improvement criteria, the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints, and the European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria at 24 weeks. Additional end points included scores on the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy,Fatigue (FACIT-F), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) Disability Index (DI), and Short Form 36 (SF-36) instruments, as well as Genant-modified Sharp radiographic scores at 24 weeks. Results Patients assigned to placebo (n = 209) and rituximab (n = 311) had active, longstanding RA. At week 24, significantly more (P < 0.0001) rituximab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients demonstrated ACR20 (51% versus 18%), ACR50 (27% versus 5%), and ACR70 (12% versus 1%) responses and moderate-to-good EULAR responses (65% versus 22%). All ACR response parameters were significantly improved in rituximab-treated patients, who also had clinically meaningful improvements in fatigue, disability, and health-related quality of life (demonstrated by FACIT-F, HAQ DI, and SF-36 scores, respectively) and showed a trend toward less progression in radiographic end points. Rituximab depleted peripheral CD20+ B cells, but the mean immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgM, and IgA) remained within normal ranges. Most adverse events occurred with the first rituximab infusion and were of mild-to-moderate severity. The rate of serious infections was 5.2 per 100 patient-years in the rituximab group and 3.7 per 100 patient-years in the placebo group. Conclusion At 24 weeks, a single course of rituximab with concomitant MTX therapy provided significant and clinically meaningful improvements in disease activity in patients with active, longstanding RA who had an inadequate response to 1 or more anti-TNF therapies. [source] | ||||||||||