Management of cutaneous lupus erythematosus with low-dose methotrexate: indication for modulation of inflammatory mechanisms.

Abstract

There is no consensus about an effective and safe treatment for patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (LE) who are refractory to antimalarials and/or low-dose oral glucocorticosteroids. Therefore, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and laboratory findings of 12 patients who received weekly administrations of 10-25 mg methotrexate (MTX). Previous treatment with antimalarials and/or glucocorticosteroids was not effective or had to be withdrawn because of side effects. Of 12 patients, ten showed improvement of their skin lesions; two patients did not respond to low-dose MTX; two patients cleared rapidly, and five other patients had long-lasting remissions of 5-24 months after stopping MTX treatment. A reduction of circulating autoantibodies was detected in five patients. In all patients, MTX was well tolerated subjectively and objectively. Weekly low-dose MTX is useful for the treatment of cutaneous LE, particularly in those cases which need long-term treatment and/or do not respond to standard therapeutic regimens.

• Authors: I B Boehm, G A Boehm, R Bauer
• Journal: Rheumatology international (Rheumatol Int) Vol. 18 Issue 2 Pg. 59-62 ( 1998) ISSN: 0172-8172 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 9782534 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antirheumatic Agents
• Autoantibodies
• Methotrexate

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antirheumatic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Autoantibodies (blood)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Female
• Humans
• Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous (drug therapy, immunology)
• Male
• Methotrexate (therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome