Methotrexate, rheumatoid arthritis and infection risk: what is the evidence?

Andrew McLean-Tooke; Catherine Aldridge; Sheila Waugh; Gavin P Spickett; Lesley Kay

doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kep101

Methotrexate, rheumatoid arthritis and infection risk: what is the evidence?

Rheumatology (Oxford). 2009 Aug;48(8):867-71. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kep101. Epub 2009 May 15.

Authors

Andrew McLean-Tooke¹, Catherine Aldridge, Sheila Waugh, Gavin P Spickett, Lesley Kay

Affiliation

¹ Department of Immunology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK. [email protected]

PMID: 19447771
DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kep101

Abstract

Low-dose MTX administered weekly remains a mainstay in the therapy of RA. There is a belief amongst rheumatologists that RA patients taking MTX have both an increased risk and severity of infection. Here we review the published data on the risks of infection associated with the use of MTX in patients with RA and make some recommendations for managing MTX in patients with infection.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Antirheumatic Agents / adverse effects*
Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use
Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
Arthritis, Rheumatoid / immunology
Arthritis, Rheumatoid / microbiology
Bacterial Infections / immunology*
Comorbidity
Drug Administration Schedule
Humans
Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects*
Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
Methotrexate / adverse effects*
Methotrexate / therapeutic use
Risk

Substances

Antirheumatic Agents
Immunosuppressive Agents
Methotrexate