Initially designed to inhibit the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase and treat various types of cancer, methotrexate found application as an anti-rheumatic drug in 1984 although suggestions for the same have been made since the 1950s. Since then, a substantial amount of clinical evidence has been obtained to clearly indicate the cytotoxic activity of the drug against the cells responsible for joint inflammation associated with RA. Thus, methotrexate is a clear choice when it comes to treating RA despite the advent of other lines of treatment being explored and implemented.
Keyphrases
- rheumatoid arthritis
- high dose
- disease activity
- induced apoptosis
- ankylosing spondylitis
- interstitial lung disease
- oxidative stress
- papillary thyroid
- cell cycle arrest
- adverse drug
- systemic lupus erythematosus
- low dose
- squamous cell
- squamous cell carcinoma
- endoplasmic reticulum stress
- emergency department
- cell death
- young adults
- systemic sclerosis
- cell proliferation
- anti inflammatory