TY - JOUR AU - Talukder, Manik Kumar AU - Islam, Mohammad Imnul AU - Hossain, Mahmuda AU - Rahman, Shahana Akhter PY - 2010/08/05 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - The Efficacy of Subcutaneous Versus Oral Methotrexate in Patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis JF - Bangladesh Journal of Child Health JA - Bangladesh J Child Health VL - 33 IS - 1 SE - Original Articles DO - 10.3329/bjch.v33i1.5671 UR - https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/BJCH/article/view/5671 SP - 22-26 AB - <strong>Objective:</strong> To investigate the efficacy of subcutaneous versus oral methotrexate in<br />patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) according to ACR 30 improvement criteria.<br /><strong>Design:</strong> Prospective control trial (Parallel design) study.<br /><strong>Setting:</strong> This study was carried out in the department of Paediatrics, Bangabandhu<br />Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh, during the period<br />from September 2006 to April 2008.<br /><strong>Patients:</strong> A total of 40 patients participated in the study. They were divided in 2 equal<br />groups (Group A and Group B) alternatively matching with age, sex, and subtypes of<br />the disease. Methotrexate was given orally in group A patients and subcutaneously in<br />group B patients.<br /><strong>Results: </strong>Amomg the core set variables active arthritis had the highest percentage of<br />improvement in both the groups and laboratory criteria (ESR) showed lowest<br />improvement. According to ACR-30 criteria, improvement rate was higher in the<br />subcutaneous group than oral group (85% versus 65%). Side effects of MTX were<br />also less in subcutaneous group than oral group.<br /><strong>Conclusion: </strong>From this study it may be concluded that the efficacy of subcutaneous<br />MTX is more than oral MTX in JIA patients.<br /><br /><strong>Key words: </strong>Subcutaneous; oral; methotrexate; juvenile idiopathic arthritis.<br /><br />DOI: 10.3329/bjch.v33i1.5671<br /><br /><em>Bangladesh Journal of Child Health</em> 2009; Vol.33(1): 22-26 ER -