Use of methotrexate in patients with calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition disease

Objective: to compare the efficacy of methotrexate (MTX) and colchicine in patients with chronic arthritis in calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition disease (CPPDD). Subjects and methods. Data from a controlled prospective cross-sectional study of 10 patients (8 women and 2 men) with chronic arthritis in CPPDD are presented. In the initial period of treatment, all the patients were given colchicine 1 mg/day for 3 months, followed by a wash-out period for 1 month and then subcutaneous MTX 20 mg/week for 3 months. The diagnosis of CPPDD was made if there were calcium pyrophosphate crystals in synovial fluid and signs of chondrocalcinosis, as evidenced by joint X-ray and/or ultrasonography. DAS44, the swollen joint count (SJC) and tender joint count (TJC), pain intensity on a visual analog scale (VAS), the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) index, and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were determined in all the patients at baseline, 3 months after the beginning of treatment with