TY - JOUR
T1 - Methotrexate is an effective and safe adjuvant therapy for pemphigus vulgaris
AU - Baum, Sharon
AU - Greenberger, Shoshana
AU - Samuelov, Liat
AU - Solomon, Michal
AU - Lyakhovitsky, Anna
AU - Trau, Henri
AU - Barzilai, Aviv
PY - 2012/1
Y1 - 2012/1
N2 - Background: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a chronic, autoimmune blistering disease. Most patients require long term therapy with systemic steroids as a first line of treatment. Immunosuppressive agents such as methotrexate (MTX) are administratedassecond line therapy. Onlyafew reports have assessed MTX efficacy, with contradictory results. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate MTX as an adjuvant therapy in patients with PV. Methods: A retrospective study of 30 PV patients treated with MTX as an adjuvant therapy. Disease severity score and prednisone dosage served as assessing measures. Results: All patients were treated with 15mg MTX per week. Of the 25 patients defined as severe or moderate disease at the beginning of treatment, 21 (84%) improved and downgraded their severity status at 6 months of treatment. In 21 patients (76.6%) we were able to reduce the prednisone dose. There was a significant improvement in the severity score (p=0.00001) and in prednisone dose (p=0.0001). Four patients (13%) suffered from mild side effects. Conclusion: MTX treatment is safe and beneficial as a steroid-sparing agent in PV.
AB - Background: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a chronic, autoimmune blistering disease. Most patients require long term therapy with systemic steroids as a first line of treatment. Immunosuppressive agents such as methotrexate (MTX) are administratedassecond line therapy. Onlyafew reports have assessed MTX efficacy, with contradictory results. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate MTX as an adjuvant therapy in patients with PV. Methods: A retrospective study of 30 PV patients treated with MTX as an adjuvant therapy. Disease severity score and prednisone dosage served as assessing measures. Results: All patients were treated with 15mg MTX per week. Of the 25 patients defined as severe or moderate disease at the beginning of treatment, 21 (84%) improved and downgraded their severity status at 6 months of treatment. In 21 patients (76.6%) we were able to reduce the prednisone dose. There was a significant improvement in the severity score (p=0.00001) and in prednisone dose (p=0.0001). Four patients (13%) suffered from mild side effects. Conclusion: MTX treatment is safe and beneficial as a steroid-sparing agent in PV.
KW - Methotrexate
KW - Pemphigus vulgaris
KW - Steroid sparing treatment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84857842620&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1684/ejd.2011.1611
DO - 10.1684/ejd.2011.1611
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AN - SCOPUS:84857842620
SN - 1167-1122
VL - 22
SP - 83
EP - 87
JO - European Journal of Dermatology
JF - European Journal of Dermatology
IS - 1
ER -