Methotrexate for maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease
Abstract
Background
Safe and effective long‐term treatments that reduce the need for corticosteroids are needed for Crohn's disease. Although purine antimetabolites are moderately effective for maintenance of remission patients often relapse despite treatment with these agents. Methotrexate may provide a safe and effective alternative to more expensive maintenance treatment with TNF‐α antagonists.
Objectives
To conduct a systematic review of randomized trials examining the efficacy and safety of methotrexate for maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease.
Search methods
The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) Issue 2, 2009, PUBMED (1966 to April 2009), EMBASE (1984 to April 2009), DDW abstracts (1980 to 2008) and the Cochrane IBD/FBD Specialized Trials Register were searched. Study references and review papers were also searched for additional trials.
Selection criteria
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared methotrexate to placebo or any other active intervention for maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease were eligible for inclusion.
Data collection and analysis
Data extraction and assessment of methodological quality of included studies were independently performed by each author. The main outcome measure was the proportion of patients maintaining clinical remission as defined by the studies and expressed as a percentage of the total number of patients randomized (intention to treat analysis). Pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for dichotomous outcomes.
Main results
Three studies were included in the review. A pooled analysis (n = 98) including one high quality trail (n = 76) showed that intramuscular methotrexate (15 mg/week) was significantly more effective than placebo for maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease (OR 3.11; 95% CI 1.31 to 7.41; P = 0.01). The number needed to treat to prevent one relapse was 4. A pooled analysis of two small studies (n = 50) showed no difference between methotrexate and 6‐MP for maintenance of remission (OR 2.63; 95% CI 0.74 to 9.37; P = 0.14). Adverse events were generally mild in nature and resolved upon discontinuation or with folic acid supplementation. Common adverse events included nausea and vomiting, symptoms of a cold, abdominal pain, headache, joint pain or arthralgia, and fatigue.
Authors' conclusions
Intramuscular methotrexate at a dose of 15 mg/week is safe and effective for maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease. Oral methotrexate (12.5 to 15 mg/week) does not appear to be effective for maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease.
PICOs
Plain language summary
Methotrexate for treatment of inactive Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines that frequently occurs in the lower part of the small intestine, called the ileum. However, Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. The most common symptoms are abdominal pain and diarrhea. Methotrexate is a drug that suppresses the body's natural immune responses and may suppress inflammation associated with Crohn’s disease. This review shows that methotrexate (15 mg/week) injected intramuscularly (i.e. into muscles located in the arm or thigh) for 40 weeks is an effective treatment for preventing relapse (return of disease symptoms) among patients whose disease became inactive while taking higher doses of intramuscular methotrexate (25 mg/week). Side effects occurred in a small number of patients. These side effects are usually mild in nature and include nausea and vomiting, cold symptoms, abdominal pain, headache, joint pain and fatigue. Methotrexate (12.5 to 15 mg/week) taken orally has not been shown to be effective treatment for inactive Crohn's disease. However, there has been little study of this approach.
