Essay: METHOTREXATE MECH OF AXN

Methotrexate is thought to affect cancer and rheumatoid arthritis by two different pathways. For cancer, methotrexate competitively inhibits dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), an enzyme that participates in the tetrahydrofolate synthesis.[20][21] The affinity of methotrexate for DHFR is about one thousand-fold that of folate. DHFR catalyses the conversion of dihydrofolate to the activetetrahydrofolate.[20] Folic acid is needed for the de novo synthesis of the nucleoside thymidine, required for DNA synthesis.[20] Also, folate is essential for purine and pyrimidine base biosynthesis, so synthesis will be inhibited. Methotrexate, therefore, inhibits the synthesis of DNA, RNA,thymidylates, and proteins.[
ADVERSE DRUG REAXN
The most common adverse effects include: hepatotoxicity (liver damage), ulcerative stomatitis, low white blood cell count and thus predisposition to infection, nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, fever, dizziness, acute pneumonitis, rarely pulmonary fibrosis and kidney failure.[3][5] Methotrexate is teratogenic (harmful to fetus) and hence not used in pregnancy (pregnancy category X).
Central nervous system reactions to methotrexate have been reported, especially when given via the intrathecal route, which include myelopathies and leucoencephalopathies. It has a variety of cutaneous side effects, particularly when administered in high doses.[17]
ADMINISTRATION
Methotrexate can be taken orally or administered by injection (intramuscular, intravenous, subcutaneous, or intrathecal).[5] Oral doses are taken weekly, not daily, to limit toxicity.[5] Routine monitoring of the complete blood count, liver function tests, andcreatinine are recommended.[5] Measurements of creatinine are recommended at least every 2 months.[5]
USES
It is used as a treatment for some autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile dermatomyositis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, sarcoidosis, Crohn’s disease (although a recent review has raised the point that it is fairly underused in Crohn’s disease[9]), eczema and many forms of vasculitis.[3][4] Although originally designed as a chemotherapy drug (using high doses), in low doses methotrexate is a generally safe and well tolerated drug in the treatment of certain xt in here…