Table 3 Frequency of side effects associated with subcutaneous MTX treatment – comparison of the prefilled pen and prefilled syringe
Side effects of MTX treatment | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Side effect | Device | Absent | Present in < 50% of injections | Present in > 50% of injections | Always present | Always present and very severe | Number of points | P-value |
Local redness of injection site | Prefilled syringe | 20 (87%) | 2 (8.7%) | 1 (4.3%) | 0 | 0 | 220 | 0.42 |
Prefilled pen | 21 (91.3%) | 2 (8.7%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 215 | ||
Swelling of the injection site | Prefilled syringe | 21 (91.3%) | 2 (8.7%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 225 | 0.18 |
Prefilled pen | 22 (95.7%) | 1 (4.3%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 227.5 | ||
Hematoma of the injection site | Prefilled syringe | 21 (91.3%) | 1 (4.3%) | 1 (4.3%) | 0 | 0 | 222.5 | 0.18 |
Prefilled pen | 23 (100%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 230 | ||
Itching of the injection site | Prefilled syringe | 20 (87%) | 1 (4.3%) | 2 (8.7%) | 0 | 0 | 217.5 | 0.11 |
Prefilled pen | 23 (100%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 230 | ||
Nausea and vomiting associated with MTX administration | Prefilled syringe | 9 (39,1%) | 3 (13,04%) | 5 (21,7%) | 3 (13,04%) | 3 (13,04%) | 145 | 0.007 |
Prefilled pen | 17 (73.9%) | 3 (13,04%) | 1 (4,3%) | 0 | 2 (8,7%) | 197,5 | ||
Abdominal pain associated with MTX administration | Prefilled syringe | 8 (34,8%) | 4 (17.4%) | 4 (17.4%) | 6 (26,1%) | 1 (4.3%) | 160 | 0.003 |
Prefilled pen | 17 (73.9%) | 2 (8.7%) | 3 (13.04%) | 1 (4.3%) | 0 | 217.5 | ||