[Combination therapy using methotrexate with DMARDs or biologics--current status].

Methotrexate (MTX) is the most frequently used drug in combination treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics in rheumatoid arthritis. DMARD combinations are usually the second step after unsuccessful MTX monotherapy. Evidence-based combinations of MTX+leflunomide, MTX+cyclosporine and triple combination MTX+sulphasalazine+hydroxychloroquine (complemented by glucocorticoids) showed the best results.In the case of insufficient response to the DMARD combination, MTX should be used in combination with a biologic. To date, the most frequent biologic treatment is with TNF inhibitors, but studies have shown that all biologics (with the exception of Anakinra) have comparable success rates. The combination of MTX plus abatacept, MTX plus rituximab and MTX plus tocilizumab are very promising, both clinically and in terms of blocking radiological progression. The efficacy of biological therapy is generally better using MTX combination than monotherapy.The safety of MTX combination treatment with DMARDs is not significantly lower than that of the individual substances; therefore, the required safety controls are also the same.