Methotrexate polyglutamates in erythrocytes are associated with lower disease activity in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients

Maja Bulatović Ćalasan, Ethan Den Boer, Maurits C.F.J. De Rotte, Sebastiaan J. Vastert, Sylvia Kamphuis, Robert De Jonge, Nico M. Wulffraat

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    Abstract

    Objective: To determine association of erythrocyte methotrexate polyglutamates (MTX-PG) with disease activity and adverse effects in a prospective juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) cohort. Methods: One hundred and thirteen JIA patients were followed from MTX start until 12 months. Erythrocyte MTX-PGs with 1-5 glutamate residues were measured at 3 months with tandem mass spectrometry. The outcomes were Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score (JADAS)-27 and adverse effects. To determine associations of MTX-PGs with JADAS-27 at 3 months and during 1 year of MTX treatment, linear regression and linear mixed-model analyses were used. To determine associations of MTX-PGs with adverse effects during 1 year of MTX treatment, logistic regression was used. Analyses were corrected for JADAS-27 at baseline and co-medication. Results: Median JADAS-27 decreased from 12.7 (IQR: 7.8-18.2) at baseline to 2.9 (IQR: 0.1-6.5) at 12 months. Higher concentrations of MTX-PG3 (β: -0.006, p=0.005), MTX-PG4 (β: -0.015, p=0.004), MTX-PG5 (β: -0.051, p=0.011) and MTX-PG3-5 (β: -0.004, p=0.003) were associated with lower disease activity at 3 months. Higher concentrations of MTX-PG3 (β: -0.005, p=0.028), MTX-PG4 (β: -0.014, p=0.014), MTX-PG5 (β: -0.049, p=0.023) and MTX-PG3-5 (β: -0.004, p=0.018) were associated with lower disease activity over 1 year. None of the MTX-PGs was associated with adverse effects. Conclusions: In the first prospective study in JIA, long-chain MTX-PGs were associated with lower JADAS-27 at 3 months and during 1 year of MTX treatment. Erythrocyte MTX-PG could be a plausible candidate for therapeutic drug monitoring of MTX in JIA.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)402-407
    Number of pages6
    JournalAnnals of the rheumatic diseases
    Volume74
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2015

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