Role of methotrexate as an anti-inflammatory drug

ABSTRACT

Methotrexate has been known so far as an anticancer drug with a wide application in numerous neoplastic diseases, such as acute lymphocytic Ieukemia, osteogenic sarcoma, adenocarcinoma of head and neck, breast and ovary, and certain lymphomas. However, for the past few years it has been used in low doses in the management of rheumatoid arthritis and severe asthma indicating its anti-inflammatory role. On the basis of a number of clinical trials carried out on rheumatoid arthritis patients, the American Health and Public Policy Committee has put forward certain guidelines regarding the efficacy and safety of methotrexate therapy in this particular disease. The therapy also appears to have a definite steroid- sparing effect in the management of severe asthma. The success so far achieved with methotrexate as an anti-inflammatory agent in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and severe asthma is suggestive that the therapy would gain more ground not only in the management of these diseases but other inflammatory diseases as well