Abstract
The improvement of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management has been strictly related to methotrexate (MTX) long-term effectiveness, safety profile and its widespread use in clinical practice over the last decades. According to the results of several head-to-head comparative trials against other synthetic DMARDs, MTX has been recognised as the "anchor drug" for the treatment of RA at the end of the 1990s. The subsequent increasing knowledge in the area of RA pathophysiology has progressively expanded the arsenal of available therapeutic tools, especially by the introduction of novel drugs such as biological DMARDs. The introduction of therapies targeted to key molecules and cells involved in RA pathogenesis has significantly changed the strategies for disease management, possibly modifying the key role of MTX. This review first analyses data supporting the evolution of MTX towards the role of "anchor drug" for RA in the pre-biologic era. We will then examine how the introduction and progressive spreading of biological agents could have modified the central role of MTX in the approach to RA.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1102-1108 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Autoimmunity Reviews |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 1 2014 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology
- Immunology and Allergy
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Methotrexate for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in the biologic era : Still an "anchor" drug? / Favalli, Ennio Giulio; Biggioggero, Martina; Meroni, Pier Luigi.
In: Autoimmunity Reviews, Vol. 13, No. 11, 01.11.2014, p. 1102-1108.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Methotrexate for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in the biologic era
T2 - Still an "anchor" drug?
AU - Favalli, Ennio Giulio
AU - Biggioggero, Martina
AU - Meroni, Pier Luigi
PY - 2014/11/1
Y1 - 2014/11/1
N2 - The improvement of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management has been strictly related to methotrexate (MTX) long-term effectiveness, safety profile and its widespread use in clinical practice over the last decades. According to the results of several head-to-head comparative trials against other synthetic DMARDs, MTX has been recognised as the "anchor drug" for the treatment of RA at the end of the 1990s. The subsequent increasing knowledge in the area of RA pathophysiology has progressively expanded the arsenal of available therapeutic tools, especially by the introduction of novel drugs such as biological DMARDs. The introduction of therapies targeted to key molecules and cells involved in RA pathogenesis has significantly changed the strategies for disease management, possibly modifying the key role of MTX. This review first analyses data supporting the evolution of MTX towards the role of "anchor drug" for RA in the pre-biologic era. We will then examine how the introduction and progressive spreading of biological agents could have modified the central role of MTX in the approach to RA.
AB - The improvement of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) management has been strictly related to methotrexate (MTX) long-term effectiveness, safety profile and its widespread use in clinical practice over the last decades. According to the results of several head-to-head comparative trials against other synthetic DMARDs, MTX has been recognised as the "anchor drug" for the treatment of RA at the end of the 1990s. The subsequent increasing knowledge in the area of RA pathophysiology has progressively expanded the arsenal of available therapeutic tools, especially by the introduction of novel drugs such as biological DMARDs. The introduction of therapies targeted to key molecules and cells involved in RA pathogenesis has significantly changed the strategies for disease management, possibly modifying the key role of MTX. This review first analyses data supporting the evolution of MTX towards the role of "anchor drug" for RA in the pre-biologic era. We will then examine how the introduction and progressive spreading of biological agents could have modified the central role of MTX in the approach to RA.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.autrev.2014.08.026
DO - 10.1016/j.autrev.2014.08.026
M3 - Article
VL - 13
SP - 1102
EP - 1108
JO - Autoimmunity Reviews
JF - Autoimmunity Reviews
SN - 1568-9972
IS - 11
ER -