Author(s): Eslam Elfeky, Ahmed Khalaf, Osama Abaas and Mohamed Hefny

Abstract: The present study aimed to evaluate some of side effects of methotrexate adminstration (MTX) in the treatment of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis. Thirty Wistar male rats weighing 180-200 g were divided in 3 groups and arthritis was induced in them by using Complete Freund’s Adjuvant, except in group I. In group II after the induction of arthritis no treatment was given. Group III received methotrexate as an anti-inflammatory medicine. After RA induction, all the animals received CFA near the site of tibio-tarsal joint subcutaneously. The clinical features of the adjuvant induced arthritis like difficulty in movement and edema in joint appeared 3 days after inoculation of adjuvant. The onset of inflammation was explosive occurring 13-15 days post inoculation with a peak onset at day15. The rats in group III received treatment with MTX subcutaneously from day 15 to day 30. At the end of experiment, blood collection was done for liver, kidney functions and heamatological observations. The present study demonstrated significant elevation in liver functions (ALT and AST) compared with normal control rats on the other hand there was increase in kidney functions but not significant. In contrast there was depletion in RBCs cont and Hb level.

DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2018.v2.i1a.8