OBJECTIVES: @entity1499 ( @entity6822 ) is the first choice in the treatment of @entity309 ( @entity309 ), but the doses and regimens vary significantly. For this purpose, we conducted an observational study on the use of @entity6822 for @entity309 in Italy (MARI study). METHODS: The MARI study included 1,327 @entity309 @entity1 on @entity6822 treatment for at least 12 months, at 60 Italian rheumatology units. Concomitant medications with corticosteroids, other DMARDs or biological therapies were recorded. The clinical assessment included the Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) and the serological positivity for the rheumatoid factor or for the anti-citrullinated protein antibodies. RESULTS: The included @entity1 were treated with either oral (n=288) or parenteral (n=1039) @entity6822 . Only 15.5% of the total number of the @entity1 was on adequate @entity6822 dose (i.e. >= 15 mg for the oral route of administration and >12 mg for the parenteral one). The initially established @entity6822 dose was modified in 37.1% of the @entity1 , for intolerance or clinical criteria. A DAS28 remission (DAS28 <2.6) was observed only in 58.5% of the cases, while 52.9% of the @entity1 still presenting an active form of the disease were on suboptimal doses of @entity6822 . CONCLUSIONS: The weekly dose of @entity6822 prescribed for the treatment of @entity309 is often suboptimal, even in conditions of inadequate control of the disease activity. The recommendations for the use of @entity6822 in @entity309 @entity1 should take into account the efficacy and tolerability data derived from its use in real clinical practice.

Suboptimal XXXX use in @entity309 @entity1 in Italy: the MARI study.

@entity6822 :: ('D008727', 'Chemical') :: ['MTX'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity1499 :: ('MESH:D008727', 'Chemical') :: ['Methotrexate'] @entity309 :: ('MESH:D001172', 'Disease') :: ['rheumatoid arthritis', 'RA']
@entity1499 :: (MESH:D008727,Chemical) :: ['methotrexate']
