Methotrexate reduces the levels of pentosidine and 8-hydroxy-deoxy guanosine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

This study was performed to investigate whether methotrexate (MTX) affects the levels of oxidative stress markers, including pentosidine one of the glycation end products (AGEs) or 8-hydroxy-deoxy guanosine (8-OHdG). These stress markers represent DNA damage; 19 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients underwent MTX treatment. The levels of serum total, urinary total, urinary-free pentosidine and also urinary 8-OHdG, as well as clinical parameters, including disease activity scores for 28 joints (DAS28) were measured at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after the initial treatment with MTX. After the initial treatment with MTX, serum total and urinary total pentosidine levels were reduced at 6 months, and urinary-free pentosidine levels were reduced at 3 and 6 months. Urinary 8-OHdG levels also were significantly reduced at 6 months after the initial treatment with MTX. This study demonstrated that MTX plays a role as a regulator against pentosidine formation and oxidative DNA damage in RA patients.