Low-dose methotrexate-induced vulvar edema: A case report.

RATIONALE: Methotrexate (MTX) is an antimetabolite of folic acid, which is used for management of ectopic pregnancy. MTX-related toxicity may include cutaneous mucosal damage, bone marrow suppression, gastrointestinal disorders (gastritis, diarrhea, hematitis), liver and kidney function damage, pulmonary toxicity, cardiac toxicity, and nerve toxicity. However, it is not usual for vulvar edema induced by low-dose methotrexate. PATIENT CONCERNS: In this case report, we described a patient with severe vulvar edema and oral cavity ulceration and scalp ulceration induced by low-dose MTX treatment for ectopic pregnancy. Her presenting complaints were pain in the vulva, oral cavity, and scalp. DIAGNOSES: The patient was diagnosed based on clinical findings for MTX toxic reactions. INTERVENTIONS: Vulva was disinfectioned with iodide and Kangfuxin solution, her mouth was rinsed with mouthwash. Three compound glycyrrhizin tablets were orally administered (3 times/day). After 10 days, the broken skin and mucous membrane healed. OUTCOMES: The vulvar edema and oral cavity ulceration and scalp ulceration healed. LESSONS: Our study demonstrated that even low-dose MTX can be induced skin and mucosal injury, patients and doctors should timely detection of drug toxicity reactions, immediately rescue, prompt discontinuation of medication, and symptomatic treatment to avoid accidental occurrence.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in India-how and by whom: results from a speciality clinic-use of low-dose methotrexate (MTX) was inexplicably suboptimal.

This study was conducted in order to study (a) seropositive RA patients for their prior caregivers, diagnosis makers, drugs and doses taken and (b) the disease status at the first visit and the last visit, from the standpoint of whether they received optimum or suboptimum DMARD treatment. Prospectively entered data were extracted from a rheumatology-specific electronic health record for demography, diagnostic delay, prior caregivers, diagnosis makers, intake of DMARDs and glucocorticoids and disease activity state at first presentation and at the last visit using structured query language. Among 316 patients, prior caregivers were orthopaedicians (73.4 %), alternative systems of medicine practitioners (62 %), internists (38 %), rheumatologists (35.8 %), general practitioners (17 %) and others (12 %). The diagnosis of RA was made by rheumatologists (55.6 %), orthopaedicians (21 %), internists (12.6 %), physiotherapists (3.5 %), homeopaths (2.8 %), general practitioner (2.1 %), neurologists (1.4 %) and Ayurvedic physicians (0.7 %). The mean and the median diagnostic delay among 142 patients where information was available were 18 and 8.5 months, respectively (SD +23.2). Thirty-two percent of the patients had early disease, 48 % established disease and 20 % late disease at presentation. Sixty-six percent of the patients had taken DMARDs-methotrexate (56 %), hydroxychloroquine (46.2 %), leflunomide (18.7 %) and sulfasalazine (20.6 %)-and often in combinations. Different preparations, doses and schedules of glucocorticoids were taken orally or parentally by 51 %. Only one (0.3 %) patient had taken biological DMARDs prior to visiting this clinic. High or moderate disease activity was present in 84 % at the first clinic visit that fell to 14 % at the last clinic visit. The majority of patients with RA were treated by orthopaedicians and practitioners of alternative systems of medicine with only a third by rheumatologists. In 80 % of patients, the diagnosis was made 18 months at the onset, yet in 84 %, the disease control was poor. Non-use or suboptimal use of methotrexate appeared to be the main reason.

Tratamento clínico da gravidez ectópica com metotrexato / Medical treatment of ectopic pregnancy with methotrexate

A gravidez ectópica é uma importante causa de morbimortalidde materna no primeiro trimestre gestacional. As dosagens hormonais seriadas e a ultrassonografia endovaginal, realizadas atualmente, facilitaram o diagnóstico e tratamento da gravidez ectópica, antes que ocorresse a ruptura tubária. O tratamento clínico medicamentoso com o metotrexato, um antagonista do ácido fólico altamente tóxico a tecidos em rápida replicação, é bastante utilizado em gestações ectópicas íntegras, adequadamente selecionadas. Muitos estudos vêm sendo realizados a fim de tentar definir quais grupos de pacientes se beneficiariam desse tratamento e, qual seria o melhor esquema de administração dessa droga, com redução dos efeitos colaterais e melhores taxas de sucesso. Esta revisão expõe as opções de tratamento medicamentoso mais estudadas para tratamento da gravidez ectópica íntegra, com ênfase nas taxas de sucesso de tratamento (cura, persistência de tecido trofoblástico e permeabilidade tubária) e no prognóstico a longo prazo.

Ectopic pregnancy is a significant cause of morbity and mortality in the first trimester of pregnancy. Serial hormone assays and transvaginal ultrasonography facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of ectopic pregnancy before rupture occurs. Early nonsurgical diagnosis and appropiate treatment have resulted in diversity of management options and decline in mortality, due to this pathology. Treatment with methotrexate, a folic acid antagonist, highly toxic to rapidly replicating tissues, can be applied on selected patients with non-ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Many studies have been developed intending to define which patients would be benefited by this treatment and how to administer this drug, with low side effects and good successful rates. This review refers to the best practice on non-ruptured ectopic pregnancy, with emphasis on treatment success rates (cure rate, incidence of persistent trophoblast and tubal patency) and long-term prognosis.

Artritis reumatoide de inicio reciente tratada con metotrexato, tres días por semana / Early rheumatoid arthritis treated with a weekly three time methotrexate dosage

Estudiamos 52 pacientes con artritis reumatoide (AR) de menos de un año de evolución según su propia referencia, la mayoría en clase funcional II, sin manifestaciones extraarticulares serias, tratadas con esquema de metotrexato (MTX) oral en días alternos (3 dosis/semanas, un antiinflamatorio no esteroide oral matinal y paracetamol en monodosis nocturna). Ninguno recibió esteroides o algún otro inductor de remisión. La cuenta de articulaciones dolorosas (inicial: 51; final: 4) y la rigidez matinal se redujo significativamente al momento de efectuar la valoración al fin de un año de observación. El factor reumatoide no se modificó y sólo en pacientes hubo elevación de las enzimas hepáticas. Consideramos que el MTX en este esquema posológico reduce la necesidad de medicación sintomática concomitante

Leucemia linfoblástica aguda del adulto: experiencia del Instituto Nacional de Cancerología de 1983-1987 / Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia: experience at the Instituto Nacional de cancerología, 1983 - 1987

De enero 1983 a diciembre de 1987 se diagnosticaron en el INCan, 40 casos nuevos de leucemia linfoblástica aguda. Correspondieron a 20 hombres y 20 mujeres con edad media de 20.5 años (extremos 13-41 años). Seis pacientes se excluyeron del análisis, tres pacientes fallecieron sin recibir tratamiento y tres murieron en las primeras 96 horas de la inducción. Veintiocho recibieron tratamiento de inducción con esquema HOP: doxorrubicina, vincristina, prednisona y seis recibieron el esquema LSA2L2: ciclofosfamida, vincristina, adriamicina y prednisona, La profilaxis al SNC fue irregular. Se administró un tratamiento de mantenimiento convencional por dos ó tres años con pulsos mensuales de vincristina, prednisona, metotrexato semanal y 6-mercapturina diariamente. En los pacientes que recibieron LSA2L2, se intensificó con ciclos mensuales y alternos de Ara-C, ciclofosfamida y adriamicina. En 34 casos evaluables, 19 (56 por ciento) alcanzaron respuesta completa, seis (16.5 por ciento) respuesta parcial y nueve (26.5 por ciento) fallecieron durante la inducción. La respuesta completa en 9/19 pacientes, se alcanzó en las primeras cuatro semanas con una mediana de seguimiento de 319 días (141-1736+). Sólo dos pacientes continúan vivos en primera respuesta completa. Un paciente, falleció por causa no relacionada con la LLA y otro está perdido para seguimiento, ambos con respuesta completa. Se analizan las causas de muerte durante la inducción y el bajo porcentaje de sobrevivientes libres de enfermedad a largo plazo