Now you can know if the methotrexate you’re taking for rheumatoid arthritis is active in your system.
The Avise PG test is a specialized blood test that helps measure how well your body metabolizes methotrexate (MTX). MTX is a widely used medication for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and may be prescribed alone or in combination with other therapies. However, not everyone responds to MTX therapy in the same way, so some patients need a higher dose while others do fine on a lower dose. Until now, it has been diffcult to determine the optimal dose for a given person. With results from the Avise PG test, your doctor can decide whether you’re on the right dose of methotrexate, whether you just need to give it more time to work, or if other treatment options need to be considered.
Avise PG is a proprietary test measuring methotrexate (MTX) polyglutamates, the active metabolites of methotrexate. MTX is a very common treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), favored for its relative low cost and long history of effective symptom relief. The Avise PG test is most likely to be requested by your doctor if you have been taking MTX for at least 3 months and are not getting enough relief from your symptoms. The benefits of MTX are generally noticeable 6 to 8 weeks after the first dose is taken, but it can take many more months before the full benefits are experienced. To ensure that the medicine is working, it is important to follow your doctor’s instructions, which means taking your medicine on time and at the prescribed dose.
Avise PG is a blood test that measures the amount of active medication in your blood. Your doctor will give you instructions on how to get the test performed. In some cases, your sample will be collected at your doctor’s office; in other cases, you will need to visit a lab to have your sample drawn. All blood samples for Avise PG tests are sent to Cypress Bioscience in San Diego, California for processing.
To ask your doctor if the Avise PG test is right for you, take a Physician Information Sheet to your next visit.