| Autor: |
Eric D. Newman, Donald W. Scott |
| Rok vydání: |
1995 |
| Předmět: |
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| Zdroj: |
JCR: Journal of Clinical Rheumatology. 1:99-102 |
| ISSN: |
1076-1608 |
| DOI: |
10.1097/00124743-199504000-00007 |
| Popis: |
The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose oral methotrexate (MTX) in improving muscle strength and reducing the corticosteroid requirement of patients with polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM). The method used was a retrospective chart review of our clinic's PM/DM cohort, Between September 1989 and May 1993, 12 of 53 patients with PM/DM received low-dose oral MTX (mean maximum dose 14.4 +/- 1.2 mg/wk, range 7.5-20 mg/wk). A significant increase in strength coupled with a fall in prednisone requirement (42.5 +/- 5.8 mg/d to 13.0 +/- 5.4 mg/d) was seen during the mean follow-up time of 24.0 +/- 4.3 months of MTX therapy. The number of flares per year fell from 1.00 +/- 0.35 before oral MTX institution to 0.07 +/- 0.05 during oral MTX therapy. Toxicity was minimal. Three patients were able to stop corticosteroids altogether. Low-dose oral MTX therapy should be considered early in the treatment course of patients with PM/DM to improve strength and lower the required dose of corticosteroids. |
| Databáze: |
OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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