SynthesisAnnals of the rheumatic diseases2016
Methotrexate dosage as a source of bias in biological trials in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review.
Synthesis in Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 18 citations in OpenAlex.
- Pooled it
- Comparison of oral versus parenteral methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: A meta-analysis.PloS one · 2019Pooled it
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Comprehensive Review of Etiology, Pathophysiology, and Innovative Therapeutic Advancements.Current pharmaceutical design · 2026Review
- Suboptimal methotrexate utilization in Chinese patients with inflammatory arthritis: data from a Chinese center.Clinical rheumatology · 2025Article
- Chinese traditional medicine (GuiZhi-ShaoYao-ZhiMu decoction) as an add-on medication to methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.Therapeutic advances in chronic disease · 2021Article
- Conventional disease-modifying agents in rheumatoid arthritis - a review of their current use and role in treatment algorithms.Reumatologia · 2020Review
- Effects of antirheumatic drug underutilization on rheumatoid arthritis disease activity.Inflammopharmacology · 2017Article
- Recommendations for optimizing methotrexate treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Open access rheumatology : research and reviews · 2017Review
- Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesTo evaluate if optimal dose of either oral or injectable regimens of methotrexate (MTX) of 25 mg/week was used in the comparator arms of studies comparing biologic drugs with MTX in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
methodsA systematic literature search was carried out in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library databases for randomised controlled trials comparing biologics with MTX in RA. A systematic review was performed among studies that met predefined criteria focusing on assessment of dose of MTX used in the comparator arm. Study authors were contacted when necessary. Study quality was assessed.
resultsA total of 3276 references were identified and 13 trials were included. We obtained maximal dose and regimen for all. The maximal dose of MTX used in the comparator arm of the trials was no more than 20 mg/week in any trial and for all but one trial, MTX was given orally and not by injection. The trial that used an injectable form reached a maximum of 15 mg/week.
conclusionsA suboptimal dose of MTX was used in biological clinical trials performed in RA, particularly regarding route of administration. This may have biased findings in favour of biological agents.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.