Cryptococcosis associated with low-dose methotrexate for arthritis.
One patient with psoriatic arthritis and a second with rheumatoid arthritis were each treated with low-dose methotrexate (10 to 15 mg per week, orally) for more than a year before pulmonary cryptococcosis developed. These are the first case reports of opportunistic fungal disease during this treatment. Low-dose methotrexate may be more immunosuppressive than has been appreciated. Patients demonstrating pneumonitis while receiving this therapy should be carefully evaluated to rule out an infectious cause.
D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
D008727:Methotrexate