title: [The role of methotrexate in the management of severe steroid-dependent asthma].
abstract: Low-dose methotrexate therapy has been recently proposed as an alternative therapy for patients with severe steroid-dependent asthma. This study examined the role of low-dose methotrexate in the management of asthma. Fourteen subjects with stable, severe asthma were enrolled. Patients received orally methotrexate 15 mg/week. Only 2 of 14 patients responded to methotrexate 2 to 3 years after the study's termination. The doses of steroids could be reduced. Side effects were observed in nearly 50% of patients; 7 subjects required the discontinuation of treatment. Low-dose methotrexate therapy may have probably a role in small selected group of steroid-dependent asthmatics.
authors.affiliation: Kliniki Pneumonologii Akademii Medycznej w Warszawie.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rybus
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Droszcz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013256:Steroids; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D013256:Steroids; D008727:Methotrexate