Study on therapeutic effect of the combination of etanercept and methotrexate
ElizabethS
Title: Therapeutic effect of the combination of etanercept and
methotrexate compared with each treatment alone in patients with
rheumatoid arthitis: double-blind randomised controlled trail.
Critique of Article: Recent data from studies with conventional
DMARDS support the concept that concurrent initiation of combinations
of DMARDS in RA is superior to either monotherapy alone in relieving
signs and symptons and inhibiting radiographic progression. Based on
these data, concurrent initiation of methotraxate and etanercept was
evaluated in patients with RA. A 52 week doble-blind randomized
control trial of 686 patients with active RA was carrried out in which
patients were assigned to treatment with etanercept 25mg sc twice a
week, oral mthotrexate up to 20 mg every week or the
combination....... With regard to joint damage the combination was
more efficacious than MTX or etanercept alone. The proportion of
patients reporting infections or adverse events was similar in all
groups.........
Probably someone more proficient on the computer can download this
article. My RA doctor handed it to me to read. I had wanted to get
off the MTX since I was on Enbrel. Since I've read the report I've
decided to stay on the combination of MTX and Enbrel. If the article
can't be downloaded I can try to scan it.
Good Luck
Elizabeth
Newsgroup Spambuster
Elizabeth,
Remind me what you told us at gimpfest. Are you on oral methotrexate
or injections? What dose of mtx are you on?
Thanks for sharing the article!!!
Donna G
ElizabethS
I'm was taking 20 mg or 8 pills MTX (along with the Enbrel). I was
weaning myself off (with doctor's permission), I'm now taking 6 pills
or 15 mg. Saw the RA doctor on Thursday, he handed me this article
(he had just read it recently himself) and told me he really did not
think I should go any lower on the MTX. He said he'd rather see me
get completely off the 2mg of methylprednisolone that I'm taking.
I've had normal blood work two months in a row. (Started Enbrel
12/11/03) and except for my right knee do not have any outward signs
of RA. My right knee does not have any fluid in it but most likely
still have some inflammation. I would say I'm probably 85% back from
my initial flare early 2003. I can walk but I can't run.
I'm going to do what he suggests. Even though I'm not crazy about
staying on the MTX.
Thanks for asking. Elizabeth