Methotrexate Alone Versus Combination of Methotrexate and Subcutaneous Fludarabine for Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis: Safety, Tolerance and Efficacy

The safety profile and efficacy of combination therapy will be evaluated using methotrexate (MTX) and the nucleoside analog fludarabine in 40 patients with severe refractory rheumatoid arthritis. The patients enrolled will be those who have experienced inadequate disease control with MTX alone or in combination with other immunosuppressive drugs such as sulfasalazine (SSZ), cyclosporin A (CsA), or hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). In this randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial, patients will be maintained on oral MTX at 17.5 mg/week to which either placebo or subcutaneous fludarabine at 30 mg/m(2) daily for three consecutive days per month will be added for four months. The fludarabine (or placebo) treatment period will be followed by two months of follow-up, at which time patients will be evaluated for response. Patients will be monitored for adverse effects/tolerability, disease activity, and changes in synovial volume as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Additionally synovial biopsies will be obtained before and after treatment for investigation of infiltrating cell numbers and phenotypes, cytokine profiles, Th1 versus Th2 responses, and angiogenesis.