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Evidence-based use of methotrexate in children with rheumatic diseases: a consensus statement of the Working Groups Pediatric Rheumatology Germany (AGKJR) and Pediatric Rheumatology Austria

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Abstract

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common diagnosis in children and adolescents with rheumatic disorders. In many children and adolescents, JIA is successfully treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and physiotherapy. However, in a significant number of cases the disease is resistant to this therapy, and treatment with “second line” disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) is required. Methotrexate (MTX) is frequently referred to as “first-choice second-line agent” for the treatment of JIA. To increase drug safety, the Working Groups for Children and Adolescents with Rheumatic Diseases in Germany (AGKJR) and Pediatric Rheumatology Austria have initiated the formulation of evidence-based recommendations. Evidence is based on consensus expert meetings, a MEDLINE search with the key words “Methotrexate” and “juvenile arthritis” limited to age 0–18 years, standard textbooks and review articles, data from the central registry of the German Research Center for Rheumatic Diseases (Deutsches Rheumaforschungszentrum Berlin DRFZ), experience with MTX in adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and recommendations of the German Society of Rheumatology (DGRh). Based on these data, evidence and recommendations are graded, and evidence-based recommendations for the use of MTX in children and adolescents with rheumatic disease are presented.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Prof. Dr. H. I. Huppertz (Professor-Hess-Kinderklinik Bremen) for critical reading of the manuscript and Mrs. Petra Knops for the help in preparation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology, Centre for Child Health, Heinrich-Heine-University, Dusseldorf, Germany

    Tim Niehues

  2. University Children’s Hospital of the Martin-Luther-Universität, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany

    Gerd Horneff

  3. Children’s Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

    Hartmut Michels

  4. University Children’s Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria

    Michaela Sailer Höck

  5. Working group Pediatric Rheumatology, Freiburg, Germany

    Lothar Schuchmann

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  1. Tim Niehues
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Section Pharmacotherapy of the Working Group Pediatric Rheumatology Germany and Austria: I. Foeldvari; J.P. Haas, A. Haeffner, D. Hobusch,G. Horneff, A. Hospach, R. Keitzer, G. Klaus, M. Metzler, H. Michels, T. Niehues, I. Pilz, M. Sailer Höck, M. Schöntube, L. Schuchmann, K. Schumacher, H.W. Seyberth, E. Siemers, A. Urban, E. Weißbarth-Riedl. Working Group Pediatric Rheumatology North-Rhine-Westfalia: S. Benseler, G. Bürk, S. Fahl, I. Foeldvari, D. Föll, M. Frosch, G. Ganser, S. Kastner, I. Kleine, E. Lainka, K. Mönkemöller, J. Neubert, U. Neudorf, T. Niehues, J. Roth, S. Seeliger, N. Wagner, R. Wieland, H. Winowski.

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Niehues, T., Horneff, G., Michels, H. et al. Evidence-based use of methotrexate in children with rheumatic diseases: a consensus statement of the Working Groups Pediatric Rheumatology Germany (AGKJR) and Pediatric Rheumatology Austria. Rheumatol Int 25, 169–178 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-004-0537-y

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