title: Pulmonary toxicity in a patient with psoriasis receiving methotrexate therapy.
abstract: We report a 34-year-old woman with psoriasis who developed shortness of breath during methotrexate therapy. Methotrexate had been started 4 months earlier and the patient had ingested a cumulative dose of 232 mg. Pulmonary function tests showed a reduction in transfer factor to 76% of predicted. Methotrexate was stopped and her symptoms rapidly resolved. Pulmonary function tests deteriorated further despite stopping methotrexate but with no recurrence of symptoms with a transfer factor of 66% of predicted 2 months later. At 5 months after stopping methotrexate the patient remained well and pulmonary function had improved with a transfer factor of 79% of predicted. Pulmonary toxicity is a rare but important adverse effect of methotrexate therapy in patients with psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Craigavon Area Hospital Group Trust, Craigavon, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burrows
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists; D008727:Methotrexate