Low dose methotrexate therapy for rheumatoid arthritis complicated by pancytopenia and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
In a patient with rheumatoid arthritis pancytopenia and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia occurred during low dose methotrexate therapy. This case emphasizes the potential development of opportunistic infections even with low dose methotrexate. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia resembles methotrexate induced pneumonitis. Therefore opportunistic infections should be considered before a definite diagnosis of methotrexate induced pneumonitis is made.
University of Freiburg Medical Center, Department of Rheumatology, Germany.
B
B
Lang
W
W
Riegel
T
T
Peters
H H
HH
Peter
D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000209:etiology; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000209:etiology
D008727:Methotrexate