Adverse Effect Profile With Low-Dose Methotrexate Therapy in Patients Suffering With Rheumatic Diseases
January 2023
in “
National journal of physiology, pharmacy and pharmacology
”
Studysummary This study of South Indian patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases using low-dose methotrexate reported that while mild adverse effects such as hair loss and nausea were common, serious events like cytopenia were less frequent, and folic acid supplementation significantly reduced their prevalence.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
Low-dose methotrexate (MTX) is generally well tolerated in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs), though it can cause mild adverse effects such as hair loss (7.7%) and nausea (3.9%), and more severe effects like cytopenia (1.6%) and transaminitis (2.2%). A study of 815 patients, predominantly female (87%), found that those not taking folic acid had a higher incidence of adverse events (81.2%; P = 0.0001). Early identification of toxicities and folate supplementation can improve patient outcomes.
