Adverse effects of methotrexate in a rheumatology outpatient clinic
Abstract
Introduction: Methotrexate (MTX) is a drug widely used in the treatment of various rheu- matic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, being a well-tolerated, inexpensive drug with proven efficacy in the control of joint and extra-articular symptoms.
Methodology: A descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted, 1,441 medical records were reviewed from a Rheumatology Private Outpatient Clinic at the Centro Clínico Universitario de Oriente in Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela in the period December 2011 to December 2019; from these records, 202 records of patients who received MTX were selected, excluding 52 records because they did not complete successive consultations, leaving 150 records for the analysis.
Results: the sample was represented by 150 patients, whose average age was 50.2±14.3 years, the predominant sex was female with 83.3% (n=125). The main indication for me- thotrexate was for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with 56.0% (n=84). Adverse effects occurred in 16.7% of cases, with gastric intolerance being the most frequent with 36.0% (9 patients). No relationship was found with the dose of methotrexate and the presentation of adverse effects.
Conclusion: A low rate of adverse effects to MTX was evidenced in patients with rheumatic diseases, not related to the dose, and in less than 10% of the cases it was necessary to change treatment.
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