Factors associated with response to methotrexate in systemic-onset juvenile chronic arthritis

We retrospectively investigated, in 19 children with systemic-onset juvenile chronic arthritis (SoJCA), the possible influence on the outcome of methotrexate (MTX) therapy of several independent variables, including age at onset of juvenile chronic arthritis, disease duration and severity of the disease at baseline. The dosage of MTX ranged from 7.5 to 11.0 mg/m²/week (median 9.3 mg/m²/week) and was given as a single, oral weekly dose. After 6 months of treatment, 12 (63%) patients were judged as responders on grounds of a ≥ 50% reduction in the number of joints with active arthritis and/or an articular severity score; 7 (37%) did not respond to therapy. When the baseline values of the selected variables were compared, we found that the responder group had, with respect to the non-responder group, a lower percentage of radiographic lesions (p