الفهرس 
ABSTRACTOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 238 |  |  |
| | | from | 238 | | |
Abstract
Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease often having symmetrical polyarthritis of the diarthrodial joints. Methotrexate (MTX) is the most commonly used Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and has proven to reduce disease activity.
Aim of work: The aim of the current study is to examine the relationships between C677T polymorphism in the MTHFR gene and MTX related adverse effects and response to therapy in a cohort of RA patients.
Patients and Methods: The study comprised 624 RA Caucasian patients who were recruited from 6 centres across the United Kingdom (UK). Of the 624 patients recruited 210 early RA patients had full data available at 6 months were selected to take part in this study and 272 early RA patients had data available at 6 months also were included.
Results: At 6 months analysis no significant differences were observed between RA patients with CC genotype compared to CT/TT genotype; in relation to bases line demographic features, disease characteristics and smoking status (p>0.05). a significant difference was observed in relation to systemic steroid use at base line being higher in RA patients with CT/TT genotype compared to those with CC genotype (p =0.047). At 6 months of the putative predictors of MTX toxicity, only DAS28-CRP was found to be significantly associated with the odds of experiencing side effects. While at 12 months, only the presence of radiographic erosions was found to be significantly associated with the odds of response to MTX monotherapy.
Conclusion: C677T polymorphism in the MTHFR gene is neither predictive of toxicity nor efficacy in RA patients treated with MTX. Further prospective clinical trials in larger cohorts are required to accurately evaluate whether or not MTHFR genetic polymorphisms could be a reliable predictors of efficacy and/or toxicity in RA patients treated with MTX.