title: Treatment of parthenium dermatitis with methotrexate.
abstract: Patients with parthenium dermatitis are often unresponsive to topical steroids, and immunosuppressive agents may be necessary to reduce their need for systemic corticosteroids. We evaluated the efficacy of methotrexate in parthenium dermatitis. Sixteen patients unresponsive to topical treatment were included after baseline investigations, and treated with oral methotrexate (15 mg/week). Clinical response was monitored using a dermatitis area and severity index (DASI). Seven patients completed >or=6 months' follow-up, and their mean DASI fell to 5, 2.7 and 2.1 at the end of 1, 3 and 6 months respectively, from a baseline score of 10. Only 3/7 patients required oral prednisolone in the initial 2-4 weeks. Side effects were minor, being mainly folliculitis and furuncles. Methotrexate may hence be a useful alternative for patients with severe parthenium dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India. aiimsvks@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Vinod K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Radhakrishna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: Gomathy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sethuraman
authors.forename: Yashpal
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Manchanda
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D030601:Cistaceae / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008727:Methotrexate