[Methotrexate in conjunction with meloxicam for treating ankylosing spondylitis: a clinical observation of the efficacy and safety]

Author(s): Xie RL, Li XH, Kang XT

Affiliation(s): Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Command, Guangzhou 510010, China.

Publication date & source: 2003-05, Di Yi Jun Yi Da Xue Xue Bao., 23(5):460-2.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined use of methotrexate and meloxicam for treating of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and to determine the optimal dosage of methotrexate. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with AS were divided into group A (n=14) to receive oral methotrexate at the dose of 12.3+/-3.6 mg once a week and group B (n=18) at the dose of 21.3+/-3.2 mg once a week. Each of the patients in both groups also took oral meloxicam (7.5 mg) for 3 months. RESULTS: After treatment, the clinical indexes and inflammatory parameters of the patients significantly improved in both groups, with a total efficacy of 78.6% in group A and 88.9% in group B. CONCLUSION: The combination of methotrexate with meloxicam may achieve satisfactory results in AS treatment, which is not positively related to methotrexate dosage. In short-term usage, meloxicam does not increase the toxicity of methotrexate.