The correlation between 4 adherence measurements methods in patients with rheumatoid arthritis using methotrexate.

Aims: Methotrexate (MTX) is the cornerstone in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. However, adherence to MTX therapy is not optimal, and instruments to assess medication nonadherence are warranted. To date there is no consensus on the best method to determine adherence to MTX.

Oral Versus Subcutaneous Methotrexate in Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Disorders: an Update of the Current Literature.

Purpose: This review aims to critically evaluate the potential benefit of either oral or subcutaneous administration of methotrexate (MTX) in various immune-mediated inflammatory disorders (IMIDs) through analysis of efficacy, toxicity, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of both administration routes.

Recent Findings: Recent studies comparing the efficacy of oral versus subcutaneous MTX administration in IMIDs have revealed contradicting results. Some reported higher efficacy with subcutaneous administration, while others found no significant difference.

Methotrexate Polyglutamates Exposure - Response Modeling in a Large Cohort of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Starting Methotrexate.

Methotrexate polyglutamates (MTX-PG) concentrations in red blood cells (RBCs) have been suggested as a biomarker of response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving low-dose MTX therapy. We investigated the association and interpatient variability between RBC-MTX-PG -exposure and response in patients with RA starting MTX. Data of three prospective cohorts were available.

Pharmacokinetics of oral and subcutaneous methotrexate in red and white blood cells in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis: the methotrexate monitoring trial.

Objective: To investigate the pharmacokinetics of methotrexate polyglutamate (MTX-PG) accumulation in red blood cells (RBCs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after oral and subcutaneous MTX treatment.

Methods: In a clinical prospective cohort study (Methotrexate Monitoring study), newly diagnosed patients with RA were randomised for oral or subcutaneous MTX. At 1, 2, 3 and 6 months after therapy initiation, blood was collected and RBCs and PBMCs were isolated.

Gaming for Adherence to Medication using Ehealth in Rheumatoid arthritis (GAMER) study: a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To examine the effect on adherence to disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in participants with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of a serious game that targeted implicit attitudes toward medication.

Methods: A multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT) was performed with adults with RA that used DMARDs and possessed a smartphone/tablet. Control and intervention groups received care as usual.

Effectiveness of electronic drug monitoring feedback to increase adherence in patients with RA initiating a biological DMARD: a randomised clinical trial.

Objective: Medication non-adherence in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with disease flares, increased disability and increased costs. This study assessed the effectiveness of electronic monitoring feedback (EMF) on medication adherence in patients with RA starting with or switching to a new biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD).

Methods: In this randomised controlled trial, bDMARD starters were assigned to the intervention or control group and followed for 1 year.

Patient-Reported Burden of Adverse Drug Reactions Attributed to Biologics Used for Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases.

Introduction: Although the burden of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) has a significant impact on patients' quality of life, thorough knowledge about patients' perspectives on the burden of ADRs attributed to biologics is lacking.

Objectives: This study was conducted to gain insight into the patient burden of ADRs experienced with biologic use.

Methods: The Dutch Biologic Monitor is a prospective, multicentre, event monitoring cohort system including information collected by web-based questionnaires from patients using biologics, mainly for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs).

Are Health Care Professionals' Implicit and Explicit Attitudes Toward Conventional Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Associated With Those of Their Patients?

Objective: It is generally unknown how the attitudes and beliefs of health care professionals (HCPs) might affect the attitudes, beliefs, and medication-taking behavior of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aims 1) to examine the attitudes, health-related associations (both implicit and explicit), and beliefs of HCPs about conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, and 2) to assess whether these attitudes, health-related associations, and beliefs of HCPs are associated with those of their patients, with their patients' medication-taking behavior, and disease activity.

Methods: HCPs were recruited from 2 centers that specialized in rheumatology across The Netherlands, and patient recruitment followed.

Implicit and explicit attitudes towards disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs as possible target for improving medication adherence.

Objective: This study aims to explore the contribution of implicit attitudes and associations towards conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (cDMARDs), alongside explicit measures, on medication-taking behaviour and clinical outcomes in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: In this observational study, implicit attitudes (positive-negative) and health-related associations (health-sickness) were measured with Single Category Implicit Association Tests, whereas explicit outcomes were measured with a bipolar evaluative adjective scale and the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire Specific. The primary outcome of this study was medication-taking behaviour subjectively measured by self-report (i.

Preferences of patients with rheumatoid arthritis regarding disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs: a discrete choice experiment.

Background: Although patients have different treatment preferences, these individual preferences could often be grouped in subgroups with shared preferences. Knowledge of these subgroups as well as factors associated with subgroup membership supports health care professionals in the understanding of what matters to patients in clinical decision-making.

Objectives: To identify subgroups of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) based on their shared preferences toward disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and to identify factors associated with subgroup membership.

Development and Validation of a Sensitive UHPLC-MS/MS-Based Method for the Analysis of Folylpolyglutamate Synthetase Enzymatic Activity in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: Application in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Leukemia Patients.

Background: Folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS) is a crucial enzyme in both cellular folate homeostasis and the intracellular retention of folate analogue drugs such as methotrexate (MTX), which is commonly used for the treatment of (pediatric) leukemia and the anchor drug in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment. To date, assessment of FPGS catalytic activity relies on assays using radioactive substrates that are labor-intensive and require relatively large numbers of cells. Here, we describe a nonradioactive, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer (UHPLC-MS/MS)-based method allowing for sensitive and accurate measurements of FPGS activity in low cell numbers (ie, 1-2 × 10) of biological specimens, including leukemic blast cells of acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with RA.

Adherence to etanercept therapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients during 3 years of follow-up.

Objectives: To determine the percentage non-adherence to etanercept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis during three years of follow-up.

Methods: During study visits in this prospective cohort study, blood samples were taken to determine serum etanercept concentrations using ELISA and patients were asked if they had missed an etanercept dose, at which date and for what reason. Non-adherence was defined as serum etanercept concentration <0.

Diabetes management in an Australian primary care population.

What Is Known And Objective: Worldwide studies have shown that significant proportions of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) do not meet targets for glycaemic control, blood pressure (BP) and lipids, putting them at higher risk of developing complications. However, little is known about medicines management in Australian primary care populations with T2DM. The aim of this study was to (i) describe the management of a large group of patients in primary care, (ii) identify areas for improvement in management and (iii) determine any relationship between adherence and glycaemic, BP and lipid control.