title: End-stage liver disease developing with the use of methotrexate in heterozygous alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency.
abstract: We report a case of cirrhosis developing in a man who was heterozygous for alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency and who was receiving methotrexate for severe rheumatoid arthritis. The alpha 1-antitrypsin phenotype PiMZ has been associated with cryptogenic cirrhosis. Our patient had no biochemical or histologic evidence of chronic liver disease during the first year of receiving methotrexate. We postulate that the PiMZ state may result in enhanced susceptibility to methotrexate-induced hepatic toxicity and should be screened for if liver function abnormalities occur during methotrexate therapy.
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hilsden
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Urbanski
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Swain
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010641:Phenotype; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000235:genetics; D019896:alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency
chemical_list: D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D008727:Methotrexate