title: [Methotrexate may be a useful corticosteroid reducing treatment of severe asthma].
abstract: Asthma is a chronic airway disease affecting many people worldwide. Less than 1% suffers from difficult-to-treat asthma and requires systemic corticosteroid treatment to achieve symptom control. The therapeutic options for these patients are limited and often we have to accept a lesser degree of symptom control. Methotrexate has been evaluated in 13 studies, where the mean corticosteroid dose reduction was 35%. Despite the adverse effects, we find that methotrexate may be a useful treatment of severe asthma in certain patients under close observation.
authors.forename: Malene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knarborg
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hilberg
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dahl
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019091:Critical Pathways; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008727:Methotrexate