HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Methotrexate-induced pulmonary injury: serial CT findings.

AbstractUNLABELLED:
We describe serial computed tomographic (CT) findings of methotrexate (MTX)-induced pulmonary injury.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
The cases of 8 patients (3 men and 5 women; mean age 58.6 years, range 16 to 75 years) of clinically diagnosed MTX-induced pulmonary injury were reviewed. Six patients had rheumatoid arthritis, 1 had lupus erythematosus profundus, and 1 had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. CT findings on admission and at follow-up were evaluated.
RESULTS:
The most common CT features were diffuse and patchy bilateral ground-glass opacity with (n = 3) or without reticulation (n = 4) and consolidation (n = 1). These opacities showed no predilection for any particular lung zone in 6 patients but did show dependent predilection in 1 patient and upper lobe predilection in 1. Diffuse centrilobular ill-defined nodules were noted in 1 patient, which disappeared on follow-up. During the average post-treatment follow-up period of 31.0 days (range 3 to 76 days), the opacities quickly improved after treatment in 6 patients; however, in 2 patients with pre-existing interstitial pneumonitis the opacities were refractory.
CONCLUSION:
CT features of MTX-induced pulmonary injury were variable and included diffuse parenchymal opacification, reticular opacities, and centrilobular nodules. These opacities usually responded quickly to treatment; however, those patients with lung fibrosis at presentation may have worse prognosis.
AuthorsHiroaki Arakawa, Masaomi Yamasaki, Yasuyuki Kurihara, Hidehiro Yamada, Yasuo Nakajima
JournalJournal of thoracic imaging (J Thorac Imaging) Vol. 18 Issue 4 Pg. 231-6 (Oct 2003) ISSN: 0883-5993 [Print] United States
PMID14561908 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
Chemical References
  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Methotrexate
Topics
  • Antirheumatic Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid (drug therapy)
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Lung (diagnostic imaging)
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic (drug therapy)
  • Male
  • Methotrexate (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumonia (chemically induced, diagnostic imaging)
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: