Methotrexate (MTX) pathway gene polymorphisms and their effects on MTX toxicity in Caucasian and African American patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Research has examined the association of folate-dependent gene polymorphisms with methotrexate (MTX) toxicity in racially homogenous patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We examined the influence of MTX transporter gene polymorphisms on MTX toxicity in 2 racial groups of patients with RA.

Methods: Using a retrospective cross-validation approach, the association of polymorphisms in 6 genes in the MTX cellular pathway with MTX toxicity was examined in training and validation cohorts.

Diagnosing acute monoarthritis in adults: a practical approach for the family physician.

Acute monoarthritis can be the initial manifestation of many joint disorders. The first step in diagnosis is to verify that the source of pain is the joint, not the surrounding soft tissues. The most common causes of monoarthritis are crystals (i.