Liver biopsy findings in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis receiving long-term, weekly methotrexate therapy.
We performed percutaneous liver biopsy in nine children who had received a weekly dose of methotrexate, 10 mg/m2 per week, for at least 3 years to address the concern about subclinical liver toxicity from single, weekly, low-dose methotrexate therapy for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. No patient had clinical or biochemical evidence of liver injury. All biopsy results were interpreted as normal. These results suggest that the recommendations of the American College of Rheumatology for adults receiving single weekly methotrexate therapy for rheumatoid arthritis can be extended to children.
Kugathasan
S
S
Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
Newman
A J
AJ
Dahms
B B
BB
Boyle
J T
JT
D000293:Adolescent; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D008727:Methotrexate