Safety Profile of Methotrexate Therapy in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective The objective of this study was to determine the safety profile of methotrexate (MTX) therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis Study design This was a cross-sectional observational study. Place and duration of the study The study took place in the Division of Rheumatology, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, from May 2020 to August 2021. Methodology A total of 411 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and receiving MTX in the dose of 10-20 mg/week for at least four months were included by consecutive sampling. All patients were followed for four months for the development of cytopenias, deranged liver function tests, renal function tests, fever, and gastrointestinal upsets. Data were recorded on a pro forma. Results There were 237 (57.6%) females and 174 (42.4%) males. The female to male ratio was 1.4: 1. The average age of patients was 43.01 years + 17.1 SD with a range of 18-72 years. Gastrointestinal side effects were the most common, found in 49 patients (11.9%), followed by mucocutaneous side effects in 35 patients (8.5%) and fever (34 patients, 8.3%). Conclusion Every one in three patients developed some adverse effect within six months of methotrexate therapy. Moreover, we conclude that gastrointestinal side effects were the most common side effects seen.