MTX dose - is MTX a DMARD in PsA?

[Guest guest]

I subscribe to email alerts from Rheumatology News,

 

http://www.rheumatologynews.com/

 

volume 9, issue 5, page 6 (May 2010) has an article called:

 

MTX is not disease modifying in psoriatic arthritis.

 

I have read this with interest, the article " calls into question the use of MTX

monotherapy in PsA, and should herald a change in UK guidelines "

 

It describes a trial where 15 mg MTX was used, and looks at the role of MTX in

PsA. Of course after MTX worked in RA patients the use of MTX has been

extrapolated to PsA. Shame, if PsA was more prevalent, maybe there would be more

research on our disease.

 

They also say that 15 mg may be too low to have an effect and that very good

results were being obtained with doses up to 25 mg.

 

I find this very interesting, as although I am on Arava now also, 15 mg MTX

(with or without Arava) doesn't quite do the trick with me. I keep going back to

20 mg MTX. I also have never quite understood, that while my symptoms aren't

THAT bad (compared to people who can't get out of bed and are in huge pain and

high CRPs etc), then why do I need 2 drugs and high doses of MTX as well? Maybe

because 15 mg MTX doesn't act as a DMARD in PsA??

 

I have an appt with my rheumy in a couple of weeks and will ask him about this

article, hope some of you will read the article too and give us your thoughts.

 

regards

max