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Risk Factors of Alarcon et al for Methotrexate-Induced Lung Injury in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Description

Alarcon et al identified risk factors for methotrexate-associated lung injury in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This can help identify patients at high risk for this complication. The authors are from the University of Alabama and 7 other medical institutions in the United States.


Risk Factor

Odds Ratio

95% Confidence Interval

age >= 60 years

5.1

1.2 to 21.1

diabetes mellitus

35.6

1.3 to infinity

rheumatoid pleuropulmonary involvement

7.1

1.1 to 45.4

previous use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs

5.6

1.2 to 27.0

hypoalbuminemia

19.5

3.5 to 109.7

see Table 6, page 361

 

where:

• Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs include sulfasalazine, oral gold, d-penicillamine and parenteral gold.

 

Other risk factors (with wide confidence intervals and considered not statistically significant):

(1) more than 1 alcoholic drink per week (odds ratio 3.3)

(2) urban residence (odds ratio 2.8)

(3) ever smoked (odds ratio 2.6)

 


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