Rheumatoid ArthritisPhase 2NCT00000395
Antifolate Effectiveness in Arthritis
A Phase 2 study testing Methotrexate, Folinic acid and Folic acid in people with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Adjuvant Arthritis, run by University of Alabama at Birmingham at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study looks at how the arthritis drug methotrexate works in low doses to treat rheumatoid arthritis. (High doses of methotrexate are used to treat some types of cancer.) Methotrexate blocks the action of the B-vitamin known as folic acid. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 85 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Rheumatoid Arthritis, Adjuvant Arthritis
- What is being tested?
- Methotrexate, Folinic acid and Folic acid
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Sep 1996to Aug 2002
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 85 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Individuals starting methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis.
- Study subjects should not currently be taking folic acid-containing vitamins.
Who cannot join
- Cancer, renal, or liver disease.
- Previous use of methotrexate within the past 6 months or current use of folic acid-containing supplements.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, 35294
About this study
Official title: Mechanisms of Antifolate Efficacy in Arthritis
This study looks at how the arthritis drug methotrexate works in low doses to treat rheumatoid arthritis. (High doses of methotrexate are used to treat some types of cancer.) Methotrexate blocks the action of the B-vitamin known as folic acid. We are studying the biochemical reactions affected by this vitamin because we think that blocking many of these reactions may be necessary for methotrexate to work in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Through these studies, we hope to gain a better understanding of how this drug and related drugs work as treatments for arthritis.
Read the detailed description
Low-dose methotrexate therapy suppresses autoimmune arthritis in human and animal models. We hypothesize that the effect of methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is due to the inhibition of aminoimidazole-carboxamide ribotide transformylase, a folate-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the last step in the de novo biosynthesis of inosine monophosphate. The resulting accumulation of aminoimidazole carboxamide riboside inhibits adenosine deaminase, therefore interfering with normal adenosine metabolism. It is well known that children with adenosine deaminase deficiency have severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome. This suggests that adenosine deaminase activity is key to immune competence and is associated with the mechanism of efficacy in methotrexate therapy of rheumatoid arthritis.
Several studies indicate that supplemental folinic acid (5-formyltetrahydrofolate) used in large doses during low-dose methotrexate therapy for rheumatoid arthritis causes a flare in joint inflammation. However, supplemental folic acid (pteroylglutamic acid) does not lessen the efficacy of the therapy. We further hypothesize that if methotrexate efficacy is driven by aminoimidazole carboxamide ribotide transformylase inhibition, folic acid supplementation should not alter urinary levels of aminoimidazole carboxamide, adenosine, and deoxyadenosine, while folinic acid supplementation should prevent the accumulation of these compounds.
We will test our hypotheses both in people with rheumatoid arthritis and in Lewis rat adjuvant arthritis. Our objectives include: (1) determining if the dose level of methotrexate that is clinically optimal in the treatment of Lewis rat adjuvant arthritis interferes with normal adenosine metabolism; (2) determining the effectiveness of drugs that interfere with adenosine metabolism (deoxycoformycin, aminoimidazole carboxamide, and aminoimidazole carboxamide with a suboptimal dose of methotrexate) in Lewis rat adjuvant arthritis; and (3) determining whether supplemental folic acid and folinic acid during methotrexate therapy normalize adenosine metabolism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The information we obtain will enhance the understanding of the biochemical action of antifolates/antimetabolites that are effective in the treatment of human and animal arthritis.
- Conditions
- Rheumatoid Arthritis, Adjuvant Arthritis
- Being tested
- Methotrexate, Folinic acid, Folic acid
- Keywords
- Rheumatoid arthritis, Lewis rat adjuvant arthritis, Antifolate efficacy, Autoimmunity, Adenosine metabolism, Methotrexate therapy, Skeletal disorder, Dietary supplement, Antiarthritic agent, Folic acid
- Medical subject headings
- Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Arthritis, Experimental, Autoimmune Diseases
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
MethotrexateDrug
Folinic acidDietary supplement
Folic acidDietary supplement
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 - Folinic acid | Experimental | Subjects receiving Methotrexate for 6 weeks and 5 mg of Folinic acid daily for 1 week. Receives: Drug: Methotrexate; Dietary Supplement: Folinic acid |
| Group 2: Folic acid | Experimental | Subjects receiving Methotrexate for 6 weeks and 5 mg of Folic acid daily for 1 week. Receives: Drug: Methotrexate; Dietary Supplement: Folic acid |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Determine the effect of Folic acid and Folinic acid on urinary 5-amino=imidazole-4-carboxaminde (AICA in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis treated with low dose methotrexate.
Secondary outcomes (2)
Determine the effect of folic acid and folinic acid on urinary adenosine excretion in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis treated with low dose methotrexate
Correlate disease activity with urinary AICA and adenosine levels
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Nov 1999 (estimated)
- Study startSep 1996
- Primary completionAug 2002
- Study completionAug 2002
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (13)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Rheumatoid ArthritisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of Alabama at BirminghamThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Diagnosis
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Sarah L. Morgan, M.D., R.D., Principal investigator, University of Alabama Department of Nutrition Sciences
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00000395
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- R29AR042674
- Other IDs
- R29AR042674, NIAMS-035
- Status last verified
- Jun 2013
- First submitted
- 3 Nov 1999
- Last updated
- 16 Dec 2016
- Results posted
- No
Publications
Morgan SL, Baggott JE, Vaughn WH, Young PK, Austin JV, Krumdieck CL, Alarcon GS. The effect of folic acid supplementation on the toxicity of low-dose methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 1990 Jan;33(1):9-18. doi: 10.1002/art.1780330102.
PubMed 2405864Morgan SL, Baggott JE, Refsum H, Ueland PM. Homocysteine levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with low-dose methotrexate. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1991 Nov;50(5 Pt 1):547-56. doi: 10.1038/clpt.1991.180.
PubMed 1934868Morgan SL, Hine RJ, Vaughn WH, Brown A. Dietary intake and circulating vitamin levels of rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with methotrexate. Arthritis Care Res. 1993 Mar;6(1):4-10. doi: 10.1002/art.1790060103.
PubMed 8443257Morgan SL, Baggott JE, Vaughn WH, Austin JS, Veitch TA, Lee JY, Koopman WJ, Krumdieck CL, Alarcon GS. Supplementation with folic acid during methotrexate therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 1994 Dec 1;121(11):833-41. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-121-11-199412010-00002.
PubMed 7978695Morgan SL, Anderson AM, Hood SM, Matthews PA, Lee JY, Alarcon GS. Nutrient intake patterns, body mass index, and vitamin levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Care Res. 1997 Feb;10(1):9-17. doi: 10.1002/art.1790100103.
PubMed 9313385Morgan SL, Baggott JE, Alarcon GS. Methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis: folate supplementation should always be given. BioDrugs. 1997 Sep;8(3):164-75. doi: 10.2165/00063030-199708030-00002.
PubMed 18020507Morgan SL, Baggott JE, Lee JY, Alarcon GS. Folic acid supplementation prevents deficient blood folate levels and hyperhomocysteinemia during longterm, low dose methotrexate therapy for rheumatoid arthritis: implications for cardiovascular disease prevention. J Rheumatol. 1998 Mar;25(3):441-6.
PubMed 9517760Baggott JE, Morgan SL, Koopman WJ. The effect of methotrexate and 7-hydroxymethotrexate on rat adjuvant arthritis and on urinary aminoimidazole carboxamide excretion. Arthritis Rheum. 1998 Aug;41(8):1407-10. doi: 10.1002/1529-0131(199808)41:83.0.CO;2-H.
PubMed 9704638Strand V, Morgan SL, Baggott JE, Alarcon GS. Folic acid supplementation and methotrexate efficacy: comment on articles by Schiff, Emery et al, and others. Arthritis Rheum. 2000 Nov;43(11):2615-6. doi: 10.1002/1529-0131(200011)43:113.0.CO;2-A. No abstract available.
PubMed 11083294Alarcon GS, Morgan SL. Guidelines for folate supplementation in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with methotrexate: comment on the guidelines for monitoring drug therapy. Arthritis Rheum. 1997 Feb;40(2):391; author reply 391-2. doi: 10.1002/art.1780400229. No abstract available.
PubMed 9041955Morgan SL, Alarcon GS, Moreland L. Improved methotrexate patient information. Arthritis Rheum. 1995 Jun;38(6):874-5. doi: 10.1002/art.1780380633. No abstract available.
PubMed 7779139Morgan Sl, Alarcon GS, Krumdieck CL. Folic acid supplementation during methotrexate therapy: it makes sense. J Rheumatol. 1993 Jun;20(6):929-30. No abstract available.
PubMed 8350325Morgan SL, Oster RA, Lee JY, Alarcon GS, Baggott JE. The effect of folic acid and folinic acid supplements on purine metabolism in methotrexate-treated rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2004 Oct;50(10):3104-11. doi: 10.1002/art.20516.
PubMed 15476202
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Dec 2016. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Mechanisms of Antifolate Efficacy in Arthritis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00000395
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- R29AR042674
- Conditions
- Rheumatoid Arthritis, Adjuvant Arthritis
- Keywords
- Rheumatoid arthritis, Lewis rat adjuvant arthritis, Antifolate efficacy, Autoimmunity, Adenosine metabolism, Methotrexate therapy, Skeletal disorder, Dietary supplement
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Alabama at BirminghamUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)
- Study start
- Sep 1996
- Primary completion
- Aug 2002 (actual)
- Study completion
- Aug 2002 (actual)
- First posted
- 4 Nov 1999 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study looks at how the arthritis drug methotrexate works in low doses to treat rheumatoid arthritis. (High doses of methotrexate are used to treat some types of cancer.) Methotrexate blocks the action of the B-vitamin known as folic acid. We are studying the biochemical reactions affected by this vitamin because we think that blocking many of these reactions may be necessary for methotrexate to work in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Through these studies, we hope to gain a better understanding of how this drug and related drugs work as treatments for arthritis.
Detailed description
Low-dose methotrexate therapy suppresses autoimmune arthritis in human and animal models. We hypothesize that the effect of methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is due to the inhibition of aminoimidazole-carboxamide ribotide transformylase, a folate-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the last step in the de novo biosynthesis of inosine monophosphate. The resulting accumulation of aminoimidazole carboxamide riboside inhibits adenosine deaminase, therefore interfering with normal adenosine metabolism. It is well known that children with adenosine deaminase deficiency have severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome. This suggests that adenosine deaminase activity is key to immune competence and is associated with the mechanism of efficacy in methotrexate therapy of rheumatoid arthritis.
Several studies indicate that supplemental folinic acid (5-formyltetrahydrofolate) used in large doses during low-dose methotrexate therapy for rheumatoid arthritis causes a flare in joint inflammation. However, supplemental folic acid (pteroylglutamic acid) does not lessen the efficacy of the therapy. We further hypothesize that if methotrexate efficacy is driven by aminoimidazole carboxamide ribotide transformylase inhibition, folic acid supplementation should not alter urinary levels of aminoimidazole carboxamide, adenosine, and deoxyadenosine, while folinic acid supplementation should prevent the accumulation of these compounds.
We will test our hypotheses both in people with rheumatoid arthritis and in Lewis rat adjuvant arthritis. Our objectives include: (1) determining if the dose level of methotrexate that is clinically optimal in the treatment of Lewis rat adjuvant arthritis interferes with normal adenosine metabolism; (2) determining the effectiveness of drugs that interfere with adenosine metabolism (deoxycoformycin, aminoimidazole carboxamide, and aminoimidazole carboxamide with a suboptimal dose of methotrexate) in Lewis rat adjuvant arthritis; and (3) determining whether supplemental folic acid and folinic acid during methotrexate therapy normalize adenosine metabolism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The information we obtain will enhance the understanding of the biochemical action of antifolates/antimetabolites that are effective in the treatment of human and animal arthritis.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Diagnosis
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 - Folinic acid | Experimental | Drug: Methotrexate, Dietary Supplement: Folinic acidSubjects receiving Methotrexate for 6 weeks and 5 mg of Folinic acid daily for 1 week. |
| Group 2: Folic acid | Experimental | Drug: Methotrexate, Dietary Supplement: Folic acidSubjects receiving Methotrexate for 6 weeks and 5 mg of Folic acid daily for 1 week. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 85 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Individuals starting methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis.
- Study subjects should not currently be taking folic acid-containing vitamins.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Cancer, renal, or liver disease.
- Previous use of methotrexate within the past 6 months or current use of folic acid-containing supplements.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Methotrexate | Drug | Group 1 - Folinic acid, Group 2: Folic acid |
| Folinic acid | Dietary supplement | Group 1 - Folinic acid |
| Folic acid | Dietary supplement | Group 2: Folic acid |
Primary outcome
Determine the effect of Folic acid and Folinic acid on urinary 5-amino=imidazole-4-carboxaminde (AICA in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis treated with low dose methotrexate.
2 secondary outcomes
Determine the effect of folic acid and folinic acid on urinary adenosine excretion in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis treated with low dose methotrexate
Correlate disease activity with urinary AICA and adenosine levels
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 16 Dec 2016.
- Background: PubMed 2405864Morgan SL, Baggott JE, Vaughn WH, Young PK, Austin JV, Krumdieck CL, Alarcon GS. The effect of folic acid supplementation on the toxicity of low-dose methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 1990 Jan;33(1):9-18. doi: 10.1002/art.1780330102.
- Background: PubMed 1934868Morgan SL, Baggott JE, Refsum H, Ueland PM. Homocysteine levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with low-dose methotrexate. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1991 Nov;50(5 Pt 1):547-56. doi: 10.1038/clpt.1991.180.
- Background: PubMed 8443257Morgan SL, Hine RJ, Vaughn WH, Brown A. Dietary intake and circulating vitamin levels of rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with methotrexate. Arthritis Care Res. 1993 Mar;6(1):4-10. doi: 10.1002/art.1790060103.
- Background: PubMed 7978695Morgan SL, Baggott JE, Vaughn WH, Austin JS, Veitch TA, Lee JY, Koopman WJ, Krumdieck CL, Alarcon GS. Supplementation with folic acid during methotrexate therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 1994 Dec 1;121(11):833-41. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-121-11-199412010-00002.
- Background: PubMed 9313385Morgan SL, Anderson AM, Hood SM, Matthews PA, Lee JY, Alarcon GS. Nutrient intake patterns, body mass index, and vitamin levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Care Res. 1997 Feb;10(1):9-17. doi: 10.1002/art.1790100103.
- Background: PubMed 18020507Morgan SL, Baggott JE, Alarcon GS. Methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis: folate supplementation should always be given. BioDrugs. 1997 Sep;8(3):164-75. doi: 10.2165/00063030-199708030-00002.
- Background: PubMed 9517760Morgan SL, Baggott JE, Lee JY, Alarcon GS. Folic acid supplementation prevents deficient blood folate levels and hyperhomocysteinemia during longterm, low dose methotrexate therapy for rheumatoid arthritis: implications for cardiovascular disease prevention. J Rheumatol. 1998 Mar;25(3):441-6.
- Background: PubMed 9704638Baggott JE, Morgan SL, Koopman WJ. The effect of methotrexate and 7-hydroxymethotrexate on rat adjuvant arthritis and on urinary aminoimidazole carboxamide excretion. Arthritis Rheum. 1998 Aug;41(8):1407-10. doi: 10.1002/1529-0131(199808)41:83.0.CO;2-H.
- Background: PubMed 11083294Strand V, Morgan SL, Baggott JE, Alarcon GS. Folic acid supplementation and methotrexate efficacy: comment on articles by Schiff, Emery et al, and others. Arthritis Rheum. 2000 Nov;43(11):2615-6. doi: 10.1002/1529-0131(200011)43:113.0.CO;2-A. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 9041955Alarcon GS, Morgan SL. Guidelines for folate supplementation in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with methotrexate: comment on the guidelines for monitoring drug therapy. Arthritis Rheum. 1997 Feb;40(2):391; author reply 391-2. doi: 10.1002/art.1780400229. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 7779139Morgan SL, Alarcon GS, Moreland L. Improved methotrexate patient information. Arthritis Rheum. 1995 Jun;38(6):874-5. doi: 10.1002/art.1780380633. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 8350325Morgan Sl, Alarcon GS, Krumdieck CL. Folic acid supplementation during methotrexate therapy: it makes sense. J Rheumatol. 1993 Jun;20(6):929-30. No abstract available.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Sarah L. Morgan, M.D., R.D. principal investigator
University of Alabama Department of Nutrition Sciences
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Methotrexate, Folinic acid and Folic acid in people with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Adjuvant Arthritis, run by University of Alabama at Birmingham at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Dec 2016. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Determine the effect of Folic acid and Folinic acid on urinary 5-amino=imidazole-4-carboxaminde (AICA in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis treated with low dose methotrexate.. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00000395, which also lists 13 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 Dec 2016.