Methotrexate: Safe and effective
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common systemic connective tissue disease. The prevalence of RA in the general population is 0.3–1.5% (in Europe 0.8% in the adult population), with women affected 3 times more often. The first clinical description of the disease was made in 1859 by Garrod. More than 100 years later, methotrexate was used for the first time in RA therapy (in 1951). To this day, it is the primary drug in the therapy of this disease, as well as many other autoimmune and cancer diseases. The article presents the most important information on the use of methotrexate and the results of a study conducted at the local Center, confirming the safety of using the drug.
Keywords: rheumatoid arthritismethotrexatepharmacological therapy
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