Re: RESEARCH - MTX modulates the kinetics of adenosine

[Guest guest]

Hello, !

Since the exact cause of migraines isn't known, it's hard to say. Adenosine

is thought to play a role, and I have read that increased levels of

adenosine are associated with migraine - cause or effect, I'm not sure.

This study attempts to show a relationship between MTX treatment and the

metabolism of adenosine. Adenosine is a vasodilator and MTX seems, from the

evidence presented in this study, to increase its effects and/or its

release.

Whatever the reason, I'm happy to hear that your migraines have ceased.

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

RESEARCH - MTX modulates the kinetics of adenosine in humans in

>> vivo

>>

>> Ann Rheum Dis. 2006 Apr;65(4):465-70. Epub 2005 Nov 24.

>>

>>

>> Methotrexate modulates the kinetics of adenosine in humans in vivo.

>>

>>

>> Riksen NP, Barrera P, van den Broek PH, van Riel PL, Smits P, Rongen GA.

>>

>> Department of Pharmacology-Toxicology 149, Radboud University Nijmegen

>> Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein 21, 6525 EZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

>> N.Riksen@...

>>

>> BACKGROUND: Animal studies suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of

>> methotrexate (MTX) is mediated by increased adenosine concentrations.

>> OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of MTX on the vasodilator effects of

>> adenosine and the nucleoside uptake inhibitor, dipyridamole, in humans in

>> vivo as a marker for changes in adenosine kinetics. METHODS: Ten patients

>> with active arthritis were treated with MTX (15 mg/week). Measurements

>> were

>> performed before and after 12 weeks of treatment. At these time points,

>> the

>> activity of adenosine deaminase was measured in isolated lymphocytes, and

>> forearm blood flow (FBF) was determined by venous occlusion

>> plethysmography

>> during administration of adenosine and dipyridamole into the brachial

>> artery. RESULTS: The Vmax of adenosine deaminase in lymphocytes was

>> reduced

>> by MTX treatment (p<0.05). MTX significantly enhanced vasodilator

>> response

>> to adenosine (0.5 and 1.5 microg/min/dl of forearm tissue; mean (SE) FBF

>> ratio increased from 1.2 (0.2) to 1.4 (0.2) and 2.2 (0.2) ml/dl/min,

>> respectively, before and from 1.3 (0.1) to 1.8 (0.2) and 3.2 (0.5)

>> ml/dl/min

>> during MTX treatment; p<0.05). Also, dipyridamole-induced vasodilatation

>> (30

>> and 100 microg/min/dl) was enhanced by MTX (FBF ratio increased from 1.2

>> (0.2) to 1.5 (0.3) and 1.8 (0.2), respectively, before and from 1.3 (0.1)

>> to

>> 1.8 (0.2) and 2.4 (0.4) during MTX treatment; p<0.05).

>>

>> CONCLUSIONS: MTX treatment inhibits deamination of adenosine and

>> potentiates

>> adenosine-induced vasodilatation. Also dipyridamole-induced

>> vasodilatation

>> is enhanced by MTX treatment, suggesting an increased extracellular

>> formation of adenosine. These effects on the adenosine kinetics in humans

>> may contribute to the therapeutic efficacy of MTX.

>>

>> PMID: 16308339

>>

>>

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=1\

6308339

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> Not an MD

[Guest guest]

,

I have the same trilogy of diseases/conditions that you have: RA, DM,

and migraines. I much prefer the DM, because at least I can take

measures to control it. That is very interesting that the mtx seemed to

prevent the migraines. I had them for years until a doctor prescribed a

combination of two tricyclic antidepressants. They prevent most of my

migraines, but when I do get an occasional one, it is much milder than

in the past. I hope that the mtx helps your RA a lot with no bad side

effects so that you can stay on it for this wonderful side effect.

Sue

On Tuesday, April 25, 2006, at 04:33 PM, Kane wrote:

>

> I am usually a lurker on this fine list. I was diagnosed with DM in

> September after a couple years of worsening symptoms.

>

> I am having trouble understanding this study below. Can someone help?

> the

> reason I am so interested is that I am on 8 tabs o methotrexate a week

> (and tapering down durrently at 8 mg of pred a day) and have noticed

> that

> when the methotrexate kicked in, the migraines I have been troubled

> with

> incessantly and increasingly for years, have stopped.

>

> Could the study below be addressing one of the reasons why??

[Guest guest]

Sue, I thought meant dermatomyositis.

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Re: [ ] RESEARCH - MTX modulates the kinetics of adenosine

> ,

>

> I have the same trilogy of diseases/conditions that you have: RA, DM,

> and migraines. I much prefer the DM, because at least I can take

> measures to control it. That is very interesting that the mtx seemed to

> prevent the migraines. I had them for years until a doctor prescribed a

> combination of two tricyclic antidepressants. They prevent most of my

> migraines, but when I do get an occasional one, it is much milder than

> in the past. I hope that the mtx helps your RA a lot with no bad side

> effects so that you can stay on it for this wonderful side effect.

>

> Sue

>

> On Tuesday, April 25, 2006, at 04:33 PM, Kane wrote:

>>

>> I am usually a lurker on this fine list. I was diagnosed with DM in

>> September after a couple years of worsening symptoms.

>>

>> I am having trouble understanding this study below. Can someone help?

>> the

>> reason I am so interested is that I am on 8 tabs o methotrexate a week

>> (and tapering down durrently at 8 mg of pred a day) and have noticed

>> that

>> when the methotrexate kicked in, the migraines I have been troubled

>> with

>> incessantly and increasingly for years, have stopped.

>>

>> Could the study below be addressing one of the reasons why??

[Guest guest]

Oh. I'm so used to seeing DM as an abbreviation for diabetes on my

diabetes lists that I thought she meant that.

Sue

On Tuesday, April 25, 2006, at 09:07 PM, wrote:

> Sue, I thought meant dermatomyositis.

>

[Guest guest]

It's funny you should mention this. I get frequent, severe migraines

too. I take Depakote to prevent them, and it does help, but I still

get them pretty frequently.

After I was dx'd with RA in Jan, and put on prednisone until we can

find a DMARD that works for me, my migraines almost totally

stopped. I mentioned it to the rheumatologist, and she said they

sometimes use prednisone to stop really bad, treatment resistant

migraines. In my case, I'm sure it was the prednisone that stopped

them, because they stopped before I started taking Mtx. I'm on that

now too, (and Arava as well, at this point) but my prednisone is

still up at 15 mg, because the other drugs aren't really working

yet.

I am crossing my fingers that the migraines don't come back when I

finally get off the prednisone. Hearing that the Mtx is keeping

yours at bay makes me hope that I will find the same to be true! It

would be nice to have SOME observable benefit from the Mtx, since it

hasn't seemed to do much for the RA, and I have to put up with it

making me sick and exhausted once a week!<g>

> >

> > I am usually a lurker on this fine list. I was diagnosed with DM

in

> > September after a couple years of worsening symptoms.

> >

> > I am having trouble understanding this study below. Can someone

help?

> > the

> > reason I am so interested is that I am on 8 tabs o methotrexate

a week

> > (and tapering down durrently at 8 mg of pred a day) and have

noticed

> > that

> > when the methotrexate kicked in, the migraines I have been

troubled

> > with

> > incessantly and increasingly for years, have stopped.

> >

> > Could the study below be addressing one of the reasons why??

>