Osteoarthritis (OA) is considered a complex, multifactorial disease leading to considerable
pain and functional disability amongst older adults in particular.Synovial inflammation and
proliferation has emerged as a key component of OA and as a potential predictor of worsening
disease. Methotrexate (MTX) is widely used in the treatment of all inflammatory rheumatic
diseases. Accordingly, the aim of the present study is to assess the efficacy of methotrexate
(MTX) in decreasing pain and inflammation in symptomatic knee OA.
128 patients with clinical and radiographic criteria of primary knee OA pain,were recruited.
Patients meeting the eligibility criteria are randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either
25mg/week oral MTX (n=64) or placebo (n=64) together with their usual therapy provided the
dosages are kept constant for 32 weeks. The primary outcome measure is pain reduction and
secondary outcome measures is improvement in physical function scores.
Keywords:
methotrexate knee osteoarthritis inflammation pain reduction physical funtion