Predicting Response to Methotrexate in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Nonresponders are more likely to have negative antinuclear antibody test results, long-standing disease, more disability, and wrist involvement.

Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) causes significant long-term morbidity even with appropriate therapy. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are first-line treatment agents, and methotrexate is the usual second-line agent for children who do not respond to or cannot tolerate NSAIDs. Patients who do not respond to or cannot tolerate NSAIDS or methotrexate are candidates for biological agents (e.g., etanercept, infliximab). To assess predictors of poor response to methotrexate, investigators conducted a post hoc analysis of data for 563 children (age range, 4–11 years) with JIA who participated in the randomized Pediatric Rheumatologic International Trials Organization (PRINTO) methotrexate trial.

After 6 months of tre…

Reviewing Author

Peggy Sue Weintrub, MD

Predicting Response to Methotrexate in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

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Reviewing Author