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Clinical and epidemiological research
Efficacy and toxicity of methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy versus MTX combination therapy with non-biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  1. W Katchamart1,2,
  2. J Trudeau3,
  3. V Phumethum1,
  4. C Bombardier4,5
  1. 1
    Rheumatology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  2. 2
    Rheumatology Division, Department of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
  3. 3
    Hôspital Notre-Dame, Department of Rheumatology, Montreal, Canada
  4. 4
    Division of Rheumatology and Department of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  5. 5
    Division of Clinical Decision Making and Health Care, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  1. Dr C Bombardier, Institute for Work and Health, 481 University Avenue, Suite 800, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2E9, Canada; claire.bombardier{at}utoronto.ca

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy compared with MTX combination with non-biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in adults with rheumatoid arthritis.

Method: A systematic review of randomised trials comparing MTX alone and in combination with other non-biological DMARDs was carried out. Trials were identified in Medline, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and ACR/EULAR meeting abstracts. Primary outcomes were withdrawals for adverse events or lack of efficacy.

Results: A total of 19 trials (2025 patients) from 6938 citations were grouped by the type of patients randomised. Trials in DMARD naive patients showed no significant advantage of the MTX combination versus monotherapy; withdrawals for lack of efficacy or toxicity were similar in both groups (relative risk (RR) = 1.16; 95% CI 0.70 to 1.93). Trials in MTX or non-MTX DMARD inadequate responder patients also showed no difference in withdrawal rates between the MTX combo versus mono groups (RR = 0.86; 95% CI 0.49 to 1.51 and RR = 0.75; 95% CI 0.41 to 1.35), but in one study the specific combination of MTX with sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine showed a better efficacy/toxicity ratio than MTX alone with RR = 0.3 (95% CI 0.14 to 0.65). Adding leflunomide to MTX non-responders improved efficacy but increased the risk of gastrointestinal side effects and liver toxicity. Withdrawals for toxicity were most significant with ciclosporin and azathioprine combinations.

Conclusion: In DMARD naive patients the balance of efficacy/toxicity favours MTX monotherapy. In DMARD inadequate responders the evidence is inconclusive. Trials are needed that compare currently used MTX doses and combination therapies.

https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2008.099861

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    Methotrexate (MTX) is among the most effective disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with less toxicity and better tolerability. Unfortunately, MTX alone may not fully control disease activity. Increasingly, MTX is used in combination with other non-biological DMARDs.1–3

    Many MTX and traditional DMARDs combination regimens have been studied, but several important questions remain.4–6 What is the relative benefit and toxicity of MTX mono versus MTX combination with DMARDs? When should the combination DMARD therapy be used: initially or only after a trial of MTX monotherapy? Finally, which is the preferred combination DMARD strategy? These questions are particularly salient as formularies in many countries require the use of MTX mono and MTX combo therapies before reimbursing for the more expensive biological drugs. The objective of this paper was to systematically review randomised trials that compared MTX monotherapy with MTX in combination with other non-biological DMARDs. This manuscript is part of the 3E (Evidence, Expertise and Exchange) Initiative described in more details in the same issue of this journal.7

    MATERIALS AND METHODS

    Literature search

    We performed a search of electronic bibliographic databases including Medline (1950 to June week 3 2007), EMBASE (1980 to 2007 week 25) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (2nd quarter 2007) using a search strategy that combined terms for “rheumatoid arthritis”, “methotrexate” and “randomised controlled trials” (full search strategy available online at http://www.annrheumdis.com/supplemental). We also searched the abstracts of the Annual scientific meetings of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) from 2005 to 2007, the references lists of all relevant studies, letters and review articles, and all languages were included.

    Study selection

    Two reviewers (WK, JT) independently screened the titles and abstracts of the citations and retrieved relevant articles. The following selection criteria were used: (a) randomised controlled trials of MTX monotherapy versus MTX combined with other DMARDs of at least 12 weeks of trial duration (open-label extensions were excluded as well as studies comparing DMARDs not currently used—for example, oral gold); (b) patients with RA ⩾18 years old; (c) data available on one or more of following prespecified outcomes: ACR core set8; ACR 20, 50 or 70 responses9; ACR remission10; Disease Activity Score (DAS)11 12; EULAR response13; withdrawal due to lack of efficacy or adverse events (AEs); number of total or individual AEs (only commonly reported individual AEs are presented).

    Data abstraction and quality assessment

    Two reviewers (WK, VP) independently extracted the data and assessed the quality of relevant studies. Study quality was assessed using van Tulder ‘s scale.14 This scale comprises 11 questions, including randomisation, blinding procedure (patients, provider and outcome assessor), concealed treatment allocation, similarity of the important baseline characteristics, co-intervention, timing of the outcome assessment, compliance and withdrawals and intention-to-treat analysis. Each item is rated as “yes” = 1 and “no or do not know”  = 0. The score ranges from 0 to 11.

    Data synthesis

    We used RevMan 4.2.10 for analysis. The efficacy analysis was stratified into three groups based on previous DMARD use. The “DMARD naïve, parallel strategy” refers to trials in which patients who never received DMARDs (including MTX) were randomised to start MTX alone or MTX plus another DMARD; The “MTX inadequate response, step-up strategy” refers to trials in which patients with inadequate response to MTX were randomised to continue the use of MTX alone or to add a second DMARD. The “non-MTX DMARDs inadequate response, step-up strategy” refers to trials where patients with inadequate response to DMARDs (other than MTX) were randomly switched to MTX alone or MTX plus another DMARD. The toxicity analysis was stratified by DMARD combination and pooled across trials for each combination.

    For continuous measures of efficacy, we used either end of trial data or change from baseline and pooled them as weighted mean differences using a random effect model.15 For the categorical measures of efficacy, the end of trial results were pooled and estimated using the relative risk (RR) with random effect model. An RR >1 favours MTX combination therapy. For the analysis of patient withdrawals, an RR >1 favours MTX monotherapy (MTX monotherapy results in less withdrawal than MTX combination). Our prespecified primary analysis was based on total withdrawal rates for efficacy or toxicity.

    The heterogeneity of the trials for each pooled analysis was estimated using the χ2 test and I2 test.

    RESULTS

    Our search retrieved 6938 citations. After review of titles and abstracts and removal of duplicates across databases, 39 full-text articles were retrieved for further evaluation and 20 articles (from 19 studies) were retained for our analysis (fig 1). Table 1 summarises the excluded studies and reason for exclusion.

    Figure 1
    Figure 1

    Results of the literature search and disposition of the potentially relevant studies. *Number is not equal to the sum of the number from each database owing to duplication among databases. ACR, American College of rheumatology; CCRT, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; EULAR, European League Against Rheumatism; MTX, methotrexate; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RCT, randomised controlled trial.

    View this table:
    Table 1 Excluded studies and reason for exclusion

    Characteristics of the included studies

    Table 2 gives the characteristics of the included studies. The total number of patients in the trials was 2025. Most of the trials were 6 or 12 months in duration. The doses of MTX ranged between 5 and 18 mg/week but most were between 7 and 15 mg/week. MTX was administered orally in all trials.

    View this table:
    Table 2 Characteristic of included studies

    Methodological quality of studies

    Ten studies16–18 20 21 24–26 28 31 demonstrated appropriate randomisation, adequate blinding of intervention in both patients and care providers as well as clearly reported number and reason for withdrawal and drop out. Seven of these16 17 20 24–26 28 were high-quality (comparison groups had similar baseline characteristics and co-interventions and acceptable withdrawals and drop outs) but one study18 had a high drop-out rate (∼59%). In two studies,21 31 there were unequal co-interventions including steroid or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) between the treatment groups. One of these21 also had a high drop-out rate in the MTX +placebo group due to lack of efficacy (52% vs 24% in MTX vs MTX+gold, respectively).

    In five studies,6 19 22 23 30 the method of randomisation was not explicitly described; additionally co-intervention was either unclear6 19 or higher22 30 (NSAIDS or steroid) in the MTX treatment group

    Owing to their open-label nature, five studies4 5 27 29 32 were rated lower and in three the method of randomisation was also unclear.5 29 32

    Efficacy

    DMARD naïve, parallel design

    The ACR responses were available in three of the six trials that compared MTX mono with MTX combo therapies in MTX naïve patients (fig 2).These trials included a total of 287 patients. Combinations arms were MTX+ciclosporin (CSA)4 17 and MTX+doxycycline,18 The only significant result was for the ACR 70 response in one CSA trial with RR = 2.41 (95% CI 1.07 to 5.44) favouring the MTX combination arm.

    Figure 2
    Figure 2

    American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response: MTX combination vs MTX monotherapy in DMARD naïve group. CSA, ciclosporin; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; DOXY, doxycycline; MTX, methotrexate.

    The EULAR response was available in an additional two trials (368 patients) with combination of MTX+ sulfasalazine (SSZ)6 16 or MTX+CSA17 (fig A, online only). There was no significant difference between the two groups for a “good” or “moderate” EULAR response or remission.

    The number of patients who withdrew owing to lack of efficacy was available in five of the six trials (405 patients) with combination of MTX+SSZ,5 6 16 MTX+CSA4 and MTX+doxycycline18 (fig B, online only). MTX combination therapy resulted in less patient withdrawal than monotherapy but it was not significant (RR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.34 to 1.17) furthermore, the number of patients who withdrew because of toxicity was significantly increased 1.72 (95% CI 1.04 to 2.83) (fig C, online only).

    MTX inadequate response, step-up design

    The ACR responses were available in four of five trials (552 patients) that compared MTX mono with MTX combo therapies in MTX inadequate response patients (fig 3). Combination arms included MTX+leflunomide (LEF),20 MTX+CSA,19 MTX+ intramuscular gold (IM gold)21 and MTX+ levofloxacin.23 In this group of trials combination therapy was significantly more effective than MTX monotherapy with RR = 2.51 (95% CI 1.92 to 3.28), RR = 4.54 (95% CI 2.51 to 8.20) and RR = 5.59 (95% CI 2.08 to 15.01) for ACR 20, 50 and 70 response, respectively. There were no data on ACR remission and EULAR response.

    Figure 3
    Figure 3

    American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response: MTX combination vs MTX monotherapy in MTX inadequate response group. CSA, ciclosporin; IM gold, intramuscular gold; LEF, leflunomide; LEV, levofloxacin; MTX, methotrexate.

    The number of patients who withdrew owing to lack of efficacy was available in three of the five trials (476 patients) with combination of MTX+LEF,20 MTX+CSA19 and MTX+ IM gold21 (fig B, online only), showing significantly fewer patient withdrawals than in the MTX monotherapy group with RR = 0.42 (95% CI 0.21 to 0.84). However, the number of patients who withdrew because of toxicity was significantly increased 1.89 (95% CI 1.05 to 3.41) (fig C, online only).

    Non-MTX DMARD inadequate response, step-up design

    The ACR responses were available in two of eight trials (158 patients) that compared MTX mono with MTX combo therapies in non-MTX inadequate responders (fig 4). Only the pooled ACR 20 showed a significant benefits for the combination of MTX+SSZ31 and MTX+bucillamine (BUC)30 over monotherapy with RR = 1.85 (95% CI 1.21 to 2.83). There were no data on ACR remission.

    Figure 4
    Figure 4

    American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response: MTX combination vs MTX monotherapy in non-MTX inadequate response group. BUC, bucillamine; MTX, methotrexate; SSZ, sulfasalazine.

    The EULAR response criteria were available for one of these two studies31 (fig D, online only) and showed no statistically significant different between two groups.

    The number of patients who withdrew owing to lack of efficacy was available in five of eight trials (329 patients) with combination of MTX+chloroquine (CQ),26 MTX+SSZ+hydroxychloroquine (HCQ),33 MTX+SSZ,31 MTX+BUC30 and MTX+ previous DMARDs (BUC, d-penicillamine and IM gold).29 MTX combination therapy yielded significantly fewer patient withdrawals than monotherapy with RR = 0.37 and 95% CI 0.16 to 0.87 (fig B, online only).

    Toxicity

    Number of total or individual reported adverse events

    The azathioprine25 and IM gold21 MTX combinations increased the risk of the number of total side effects RR = 1.67 (95% CI 1.21 to 2.3) and RR = 2.61 (95% CI 1.22 to 5.55), respectively. The sulfasalazine5 6 16 27 and leflunomide20 MTX combinations increased the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) side effects (RR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.67 and RR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.17 to 2.4, respectively). The leflunomide MTX combination20 also increased the risk of an abnormal liver function test with RR = 4.3 (95% CI 2.58 to 7.15).

    Withdrawal due to adverse reaction

    In 17 of the 19 trials (1624 patients: 824 in combination group vs 800 monotherapy group) combination therapy resulted in more withdrawal due to adverse reactions than monotherapy but the differences were significant only for the CSA4 17 19 and azathioprine24 combinations with RR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.02 to 3.50) and RR = 5.18 (95% CI 1.58 to16.96), respectively (fig 5).

    Figure 5
    Figure 5

    Withdrawal due to adverse reaction stratified by combination of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). AZA, azathioprine; BUC, bucillamine; CSA, ciclosporin; CQ, chloroquine; HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; IM gold, intramuscular gold; LEF, leflunomide; MTX, methotrexate; SSZ, sulfasalazine.

    Combined withdrawal due to lack of efficacy and toxicity (fig 6)

    Our primary analysis was based on withdrawals for both efficacy and safety; data were available for 13 of the 19 trials. In DMARD naïve patients as well as in MTX inadequate responders pooled results showed no advantage of combination therapy over MTX monotherapy (RR = 1.16, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.93 and RR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.49 to 1.51, respectively). The non-MTX DMARD inadequate responders also showed no advantage of combination therapy (RR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.35). However, there was significant heterogeneity in this group (I2 = 57.4%) with one important outlier: the combination of MTX+SSZ+HCQ showed a better efficacy/toxicity ratio than MTX alone with RR = 0.3 (95% CI 0.14 to 0.65).

    DISCUSSION

    Despite the introduction of new biological treatments, MTX alone or in combination with other traditional DMARDs remain the recommended first-line treatments for most patients with RA. Our systematic review examined their respective risks and benefits. The simplest criterion of benefit/risk ratio for drug evaluation is whether a drug is stopped owing to inefficacy or AEs. These data were available for 13/19 trials and therefore represent the most powerful results from our meta-analysis. Overall, there were no benefits of MTX combo over monotherapy either within the three design strategies or across all trials (RR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.66 to 1.21) (fig 6). However, one study of the combination MTX, SSZ and HCQ showed better efficacy/toxicity ratio than MTX alone with RR = 0.3 (95% CI 0.14 to 0.65).

    Figure 6
    Figure 6

    Withdrawal due to either lack of efficacy or toxicity: MTX combination vs MTX monotherapy in disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) naïve, MTX inadequate response and non-MTX inadequate response groups. BUC, bucillamine, CQ, chloroquine; CSA, ciclosporin; DOXY, doxycycline; HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; IM gold, intramuscular gold; LEF, leflunomide; MTX, methotrexate; SSZ, sulfasalazine.

    Outcome measures other than withdrawals were not reported consistently across trials. In the “DMARD naïve, parallel strategy” ACR responses showed a significant improvement for the combination therapies only for the ACR 70 but with increasing risk of withdrawals due to toxicity. Additionally, none of the trials that reported other composite or single outcome measures could demonstrate a benefit of an initial course of combination therapy over MTX monotherapy in DMARD naïve patients.

    In the “MTX inadequate response, step-up strategy” four trials that reported ACR responses showed that combination therapy was significantly more effective than MTX monotherapy (with an equally significant increase in risk of withdrawal for toxicity). These trials, however, do not reflect current practice. The dose of MTX (7–15 mg/week) is lower than current use and patients randomised to the MTX monotherapy arm continued to receive the same inadequate low dose of MTX. In actual practice doctors would increase the dose of MTX or change to parenteral administration before adding another DMARD. Therefore, the current evidence in patients with inadequate response to MTX is inconclusive pending results from new trials that compare maximum doses of MTX monotherapy with combination therapies.

    In the “non-MTX DMARDs inadequate response, step-up strategy” only two studies30 31 were available for the ACR response analysis. Unfortunately, no conclusions can be reached. In Capell’s study, patients for whom SSZ 2 g/day had already failed were randomised to receive MTX alone or MTX + the “same dose” of SSZ; so in reality this was a study comparing MTX in both arms. The second is a trial of bucillamine which is not commonly used in North America or Europe.

    For toxicity analyses, GI and liver adverse events were higher in the sulfasalazine and leflunomide MTX combinations but did not lead to significant differences in withdrawal rates. The total number of side effects was higher with gold and azathioprine MTX combinations. Withdrawal rates due to adverse reactions were higher in all the combination therapies, but the differences were significant only for the combinations of MTX+ciclosporin and MTX+azathioprine.

    There are important limitations to our analyses; many of the studies included a small number of patients; most used lower doses of MTX than in current practice and had different length of follow-up and several studies were done with drugs that are not commonly used (bucillamine, doxycycline, levofloxacin, chloroquine, IM gold and ciclosporin). Furthermore, most of the combinations were studied in only one or two trials, except the combination MTX+SSZ, which included five trials. Also, outcome measures were inconsistently reported; European trials used DAS or DAS28 while others reported ACR responses, some (studies before 2000) reported only individual clinical and laboratory outcomes. All these limitations complicate the pooling of results across studies. Nonetheless, this meta-analysis presents useful information, particularly when looking at total withdrawal rates where combination across a number of studies is possible.

    Three previous systematic reviews34–36 and two meta-analyses37 38 compared DMARD monotherapy with combination therapy. Felson et al (1994)37 and Verhoeven et al (1998)35 concluded that combination DMARD therapy does not substantially improve efficacy and toxicity is increased; this is consistent with our overall results that included more recent trials. Hochberg et al (2001)36 included only MTX inadequate responder studies and found that ACR responses improved significantly when a second DMARD was added. Choy et al (2005)38 reached the same conclusion in this subgroup of patients based on analysis of withdrawals but added that improved efficacy is associated with an increased risk of adverse events. Donahue et al (2008)34 reported only on a small subset of our included trials (mostly of sulfasalazine combinations) and the remainder of his and Choy’s data cannot be compared with our study because they included biologic agents as well as monotherapies with non-biological DMARDs other than MTX.

    In summary, when the balance of efficacy and toxicity is taken into account, the evidence from our systematic review showed no significant advantage of the MTX combination versus monotherapy; only one study with the specific combination of MTX+SSZ+HCQ showed a better efficacy/toxicity ratio than MTX alone. Adding leflunomide to MTX non-responders improved efficacy but increased the risk of GI side effects and liver toxicity. Withdrawals because of toxicity varied but were most significant with ciclosporin and azathioprine combinations. Trials are needed that compare currently used MTX doses and combination therapies.

    Acknowledgments

    We thank Professor Maxime Dougados, Professor Loreta Carmona, Professor Desiree van der Heijde, Assistant Professor Vivian Bykerk, Dr Carine Salliot, Dr Karen Visser, Dr Estebaliz Loza, Dr Juan-Antonio Martinez and the 3E scientific committee for their suggestions and Amy Faulkner for the literature search.

    APPENDIX

    The results and figures of the search strategy (appendix 1), efficacy (EULAR response, withdrawal due to lack of efficacy, significant results of continuous data) and toxicity (appendix 2) are available on the website.

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    Supplementary materials

    Footnotes

    • Additional figures and appendixes are published online only at http://ard.bmj.com/content/vol68/issue7

    • Funding: This work was supported by Abbott with an unrestricted educational grant. Abbott had no role in the study design, literature search, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation or writing of this report.

    • Competing interests: CB holds a Canada Research Chair in knowledge transfer for musculoskeletal care.

    • This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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