Antifolate Effectiveness in Arthritis

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2002-08-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

This study looks at how the arthritis drug methotrexate works in low doses to treat rheumatoid arthritis. (High doses of methotrexate are used to treat some types of cancer.) Methotrexate blocks the action of the B-vitamin known as folic acid. We are studying the biochemical reactions affected by this vitamin because we think that blocking many of these reactions may be necessary for methotrexate to work in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Through these studies, we hope to gain a better understanding of how this drug and related drugs work as treatments for arthritis.

• Phase: Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Collaborators: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS); Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)
• Treatments: Folic Acid; Folic Acid Antagonists; Leucovorin; Levoleucovorin; Methotrexate; Vitamin B Complex

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals starting methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis.

• Study subjects should not currently be taking folic acid-containing vitamins.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cancer, renal, or liver disease.

• Previous use of methotrexate within the past 6 months or current use of folic acid-containing supplements.