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 Previous treatment with antimalarials and/or glucocorticosteroids was not effective or had to be withdrawn because of side effects.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.
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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)
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Chemical References |
- Antirheumatic Agents
- Autoantibodies
- Methotrexate
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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
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