Absence of pulmonary fibrosis in patients with psoriatic arthritis treated with weekly low-dose methotrexate.
Clin Exp Rheumatol
; 19(6): 727-30, 2001.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11791648
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
To analyse pulmonary toxicity in psoriatic arthritis patients treated with weekly low-dose methotrexate.METHODS:
A transversal study was carried out to analyse the findings on chest x-rays and high resolution computed tomography, and the results of pulmonary function tests in 27 Caucasian psoriatic arthritis patients treated with weekly low-dose methotrexate. None of them had previous recognized interstitial lung disease.RESULTS:
The median age of the patient cohort was 50 years (range 24-70 years) and the sex ratio was 20M/7F. 17 patients had previously used other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. The mean weekly dose of methotrexate was 8.46 mg (range 5-15 mg), the average treatment period was 52 months (range 3-240 months), and the median cumulative dose was 2241 mg (range 300-6520 mg). High resolution computed tomography failed to show alveolar or interstitial involvement in any patient. Diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide was mildly altered only in 2 cases. Pulmonary function tests did not show differences between patients with and without recognized risk factors for developing methotrexate-associated lung toxicity identified in rheumatoid arthritis patients (old age, diabetes, hypoalbuminemia, previous use of disease modifying antirheumatic drugs).CONCLUSION:
In this cohort of 27 psoriatic arthritis patients methotrexate was not associated with pulmonary fibrosis evaluated by means of sensitive imaging findings and pulmonary function tests.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pulmonary Fibrosis
/
Arthritis, Psoriatic
/
Methotrexate
/
Antirheumatic Agents
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Incidence_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Clin Exp Rheumatol
Year:
2001
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Spain