title: Leukoencephalopathy induced by low-dose methotrexate in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: We report a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who developed leukoencephalopathy while being treated with low-dose methotrexate (MTX). She suddenly developed loss of recent memory and left homonymous hemianopsia ascribable to the bilateral but right-predominant occipitotemporal lesions. Intravenous administration of dexamethasone and cessation of MTX quickly relieved her clinical symptoms. Low-dose MTX-induced leukoencephalopathy is a rare complication in RA, but is important with regard to the possibility of serious neurological sequellae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine (Neurology and Rheumatology), Shinshu University School of Medicine, Japan. matsuma@shinshu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Dai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kishida
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Akiyo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hineno
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimojima
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Shu-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikeda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D056784:Leukoencephalopathies / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone; D008727:Methotrexate