Four-year experience with methotrexate exposures.
BACKGROUND
Unintentional methotrexate (MTX) acute oral overdose is rarely reported.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective chart review of all human exposure calls (>150,000 charts) for MTX ingestions reported to our Poison Center during 2000-2003.


RESULTS
Thirteen patients met the criteria. The average amount of MTX ingested was 13.03 mg (data from 7 cases), and the average patient age was 43 years (20 months to 80 years). No significant toxicities occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
Although intravenous MTX toxicity can be severe, this does not appear to be a phenomenon associated with either acute unintentional or suicidal oral ingestion.
LoVecchio
Frank
F
Banner Good Samaritan Regional Poison Center, Maricopa Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA. Frank.LoVecchio@bannerhealth.com
Katz
Kenneth
K
Watts
David
D
Wood
Ian
I
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D062787:Drug Overdose; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011039:Poison Control Centers; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013405:Suicide; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D008727:Methotrexate