Toxicity of a constant low dose of methotrexate as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

ABSTRACT

Ninety patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA] were studied for the long term toxicity of metho trexate [MTX], administered orally at a dosage of 7.5 mg/week. Twenty patients had to be with drawn from the study within the first 12 months due to adverse reactions. After 18 months, toxicity was noted in 50 patients consisting of clinical side effects in 35 patients and biological abnormalities in 34 patients. Thus methotrexate at this constant low dose appears to be temporarily valuable therapy for RA. Careful monotoring is necessary in view of the potentially dangerous side effects