To study effects of methotrexate on the titer of antibodies to mutated citrullinated vimentin (anti-MCV) and ascertain possibility of using this marker for control of treatment results and choice of individual effective dose of the drug.
A 12-month trial included 76 patients with verified rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methotrexate per os was given in a dose 7.5-10 mg/week to 44 (57.9%) patients, 25 patients received no basic therapy. Anti-MCV (IU/ml) were detected with commercial chemicals made in Germany (ORGENTEC).
RA patients given methotrexate doses 7.5 and 10 mg/week and untreated with basic anti-inflammatory drugs showed no significant differences by basic clinical and device parameters, level of anti-MCV at primary examination and 12 months later.
Anti-MCV titer cannot be used for control of efficacy of methotrexate treatment in doses 75 and 10 mg/week, choice of individual effective doses.