Skip to main content

Table 2 Prevalence of MTX-related gastrointestinal symptoms in all patients and in intolerant patients by route of MTX administration

From: Prevalence of methotrexate intolerance in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis

 

All patients

Tolerant to MTX

Intolerant to MTX

Oral MTX

Parenteral MTX

Total

291 (100)

259 (89.0)

32 (11.0)

194 (66.7)

97 (33.3)

Cutoff score ≥6

32 (11.0)

0 (0)

32 (100)

12 (6.2)

20 (20.6)a

Abdominal pain

44 (15.1)

24 (9.3)

20 (62.5)

7 (58.3)

13 (65.0)

   After MTX

33 (11.3)

18 (6.9)

15 (46.9)

5 (41.7)

10 (50.0)

   Anticipatory

17 (5.8)

5 (1.9)

12 (37.5)

5 (41.7)

7 (35.0)

   Associative

17 (5.8)

6 (2.3)

11 (34.4)

4 (33.3)

7 (35.0)

Nausea

100 (34.4)

68 (26.3)

32 (100)

12 (100)

20 (100)

   After MTX

93 (32.0)

61 (23.6)

32 (100)

12 (100)

20 (100)

   Anticipatory

25 (8.6)

7 (2.7)

18 (56.3)

6 (50.0)

12 (60.0)

   Associative

32 (11.0)

15 (5.8)

17 (53.1)

5 (41.7)

12 (60.0)

Vomiting

22 (7.6)

11 (4.2)

11 (34.4)

5 (41.7)

6 (30.0)

   After MTX

19 (6.5)

9 (3.5)

10 (31.3)

5 (41.7)

5 (25.0)

   Anticipatory

5 (1.7)

0 (0)

5 (15.6)

2 (16.7)

3 (15.0)

Behavioural symptoms

48 (16.5)

22 (8.5)

26 (81.3)

7 (58.3)

19 (95.0)b

   Restlessness

38 (13.1)

16 (6.2)

22 (68.8)

6 (50.0)

16 (80)

   Irritability

29 (10.0)

7 (2.7)

22 (68.8)

5 (41.7)

17 (85.0)c

   Refusal of MTX

13 (4.5)

1 (0.4)

12 (37.5)

2 (16.7)

10 (50.0)

  1. Values are number (%) of patients. All domains and individual items differentiate between tolerant and intolerant patients (P < 0.001). aP < 0.001 versus oral MTX, by chi-square test; bP = 0.02 versus oral MTX, by chi-square test, cP = 0.02 versus oral MTX, by chi-square test. MTX, methotrexate.