Low-dose methotrexate therapy for childhood sarcoidosis☆,☆☆
Section snippets
METHODS
This study was designed as an open-label, noncontrolled trial. The duration of therapy was open ended, but patients received treatment for a minimum of 6 months to be considered as having completed the study. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of low-dose methotrexate therapy as a steroid-sparing agent in children with sarcoidosis.
RESULTS
Seven patients were enrolled in the study; all had histologically proven sarcoidosis. Table II lists the demographic and clinical characteristics of the seven patients studied.
Characteristic Children (No.) Demographic Sex (F/M) 4/3 Race (B/W) 6/1 Mean age at diagnosis (yr) 11 Duration of illness (mo) 21 Duration of methotrexate therapy (mo) 13 Clinical signs present Iritis 6/7 Fever 5/7 Weight loss 5/7 Arthritis 4/7 Lung
DISCUSSION
The current therapy of choice for childhood sarcoidosis with multisystem involvement is the use of corticosteroids. 1 These patients may follow a course of chronic relapse, and because they are usually steroid dependent, they need long-term treatment with relatively high dosages to achieve satisfactory responses. In such cases, serious complications from long-term corticosteroid therapy may be problematic. Moreover, a subset of patients with persistently active or progressive sarcoidosis may be
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2015, International Journal of Pediatric OtorhinolaryngologyMethotrexate
2012, Comprehensive Dermatologic Drug Therapy: Expert Consult - Online and PrintSarcoidosis
2012, Retina Fifth Edition
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