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ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
24785099 Multifocal Necrotizing Chorioretinitis Following Phacoemulsification Surgery. 2015 Jun INTRODUCTION: Toxoplasma chorioretinitis is a leading cause of infectious posterior uveitis worldwide. METHODS: We report an atypical presentation of Toxoplasma chorioretinitis presenting after uneventful cataract surgery in an 81-year-old male, with known hypernephroma and rheumatoid arthritis, treated with prednisolone and methotrexate. RESULTS: He was treated for acute retinal necrosis and cytomegalovirus retinitis before Toxoplasma chorioretinitis was confirmed by vitreous biopsy 11 months after presentation. He developed a secondary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, treated successfully with pars plana vitrectomy, silicone oil and endolaser. Visual acuity at discharge was 6/12 following silicone oil removal. DISCUSSION: Necrotising chorioretinitis in immunosuppressed or elderly patients may present with an atypical phenotype. Clinical diagnosis in this context remains challenging. We discuss the clinical reasoning behind investigation and management of this patient group in whom viral and Toxoplasma retinitis may be clinically indistinguishable. The significance of vitreous PCR results in clinical decision making in the context of infectious posterior uveitis is discussed.
29201698 Drug-induced Liver Disease in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus. 2015 Jul The study presented here was accomplished to assess the course of drug-induced liver diseases in patient's rheumatoid arthritis receiving long-term methotrexate therapy. Diabetes mellitus was revealed as the most significant risk factor. The combination of diabetes mellitus with other risk factors (female sex) resulted in increased hepatic fibrosis, degree of hepatic encephalopathy and reduction of hepatic functions. The effectiveness and safety of ursodeoxycholic acid and cytolytic type-with S-Adenosyl methionine was also evaluated. ABBREVIATIONS: 13C-MBT: 13C-methacetin breath test; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; AP: alkaline phosphatase; AST: aspartic transaminase; DILD: drug-induced liver disease; DM: diabetes mellitus; HE: hepatic encephalopathy; HFM: hepatic functional mass; SAMe: S-Adenosyl methionine; UDCA: ursodeoxycholic acid. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Iryna K, Helen M, Elena S. Drug-induced Liver Disease in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2015;5(2):83-86.
26621939 Improvements in the management of neutropenic sepsis: lessons learned from a district gene 2015 Dec Neutropenic sepsis is a life-threatening condition with mortality rates reported to range between 2 and 21% in adults. It can occur following chemotherapy treatment, due to disease (such as haematological conditions affecting the bone marrow) and in patients on disease-modifying agents (such as patients receiving methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis). Appropriate emergency treatment is essential and achieving intravenous antibiotic door-to-needle time of less than 1 hour is a key target. Shortfalls in the management of patients presenting to teams with limited expertise in this area were identified in the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death report in 2008, leading to recommendations including the need for an acute oncology service (AOS) at all hospitals with either an emergency department or medical admissions unit. Practice at Weston General Hospital has been audited at three time points since 2008 (in 2008, 2011 and 2013-14) during which there have been several service developments relevant to the management of neutropenic sepsis, including the introduction of an AOS in June 2013. The percentage of patients in which intravenous antibiotic 1-hour door-to-needle time was achieved has improved from 14% (2008) to 31% (2011) to 79% (2013-14) and neutropenic sepsis mortality has decreased from 39% (2008) to 14% (2011) to 0% (2013-14).
27537585 Multifocal pigmented villonodular synovitis in a child: A case report. 2016 Aug INTRODUCTION: Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a rare, benign proliferative disorder of the synovial membrane that typically presents in adults and affects a single joint. Multifocal PVNS is very rare, particularly in childhood. We reported a rare case of multifocal PVNS affecting over 20 joints in a child. CLINICAL PROCEDURE: A 7-year-old female patient had a 6-month history of multifocal joints swelling with mild pain. She was diagnosed as polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis at a local hospital. Naproxen, methotrexate, infliximab, and pavlin were used to treat the patient for 2 months. However, the treatment had no effect, the joints swelling remained. The patient was then transferred to our hospital. Physical examination revealed multiple joints swelling, especially in the shoulders joints. Puncture fluid from a shoulder joint was bloody. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed synovial thickening and hemosiderin deposition. Biopsy of joint synovium found villous nodules, the invasion of foam cells, and hemosiderin deposition. By collecting all of the evidence, the diagnosis of PVNS was confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: PVNS was easily misdiagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis and the formal treatment was usually delayed. This case described here is the first case of PVNS involving such a large numbers of joints that has been reported in the literature.
26373564 Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Patients Treated with Biologic 2015 Nov OBJECTIVE: Evolving inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a matter of interest in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and might be associated with JIA therapy. METHODS: Data from the German biologics registry (Biologika in der Kinderrheumatologie; BiKeR) from 2001 to 2013 were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 3071 patients with 8389 patient-years (PY) of observation followed. IBD was diagnosed in 11 patients, 8 with Crohn disease and 3 with ulcerative colitis. IBD incidence in patients with JIA was 1.31/1000 PY and higher than published IBD incidences in pediatric populations. Compared with the total BiKeR cohort, patients with IBD more commonly had enthesitis-related arthritis, extended oligoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and also rheumatoid factor (RF)-negative polyarthritis. No IBD occurred in patients with systemic JIA or RF-positive polyarthritis. In patients treated with methotrexate (MTX), the IBD incidence was significantly lower compared with patients not treated with MTX. Etanercept (ETN) monotherapy, but not the combination of ETN and MTX, was associated with an increased incidence of IBD. CONCLUSION: Incidence of IBD in patients with JIA is higher than in the population. MTX turned out to be protective, even in combination with ETN.
26845207 [Management of antirheumatic drugs in kidney failure]. 2015 Nov The nephrologist deals with the management of patients with rheumatic disease, both diagnostically and therapeutically. He must determine whether the renal pathology is related to the rheumatologic disease, mostly through the use of the renal biopsy. In the second case, he must know the nephrotoxic potential of the drugs prescribed and adjust their use to the degree of renal impairment. This task is made difficult by the absence of controlled clinical trials regarding their use on patients with renal insufficiency or on chronic dialysis. For this reason, the prescription will have to take into account the pharmacokinetics of the drugs. Kidney failure can affect the metabolism of antirheumatic drugs determining their accumulation, which can lead to increased toxicity, either renal or systemic. On the other hand, dialysis can cause excessive drug removal, leading to sub-therapeutic pharmacological effects and to the need for additional doses. In this brief review, we will consider the nephrotoxic effects of some important drugs used in rheumatology and examined individually, with specific reference to rheumatoid arthritis: methotrexate, leflunamide, hydroxychloroquine, cyclosporine, biological DMARDs. In the past, therapeutic success in rheumatic diseases associated with kidney impairment was severely limited by the well- known nephrotoxicity of drugs such as gold salts, D-penicillamine, NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors. Although generally effective, they are contraindicated in case of kidney failure. Biologic therapies have recently opened new therapeutic perspectives. Nevertheless, it is worth stressing how our knowledge of their action is still incomplete and this may result in exposure to immune-mediated renal disease.
27459820 [Four Cases of Other Iatrogenic Immunodeficiency-associated Lymphoproliferative Disorders 2016 May Other iatrogenic immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders (OIIA-LPD) comprise lymphoid proliferations or lymphomas that arise in patients treated with immunosuppressive drugs for autoimmune diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with methotrexate (MTX). MTX has been increasingly administered to patients with RA, resulting in methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disorder (MTX-LPD) in patients. We report herein on four cases of patients with RA, who diagnosed with head and neck region. In two cases (one case MTX and another case tacrolimus) drug therapy was discontinued, when the patients were diagnosed as having OIIA-LPD in only a few local findings. These patients have followed good clinical courses for 24 months. In the other two cases, consultations were performed for cervical lymphadenopathy by the Division of Rheumatology. In one case drug therapy was discontinued and a good clinical course was followed. In case of the other patient, however, who had undergone tacrolimus therapy after MTX therapy was discontinued, she relapsed and died. In the case of patients with an autoimmune disease such as RA who are taking MTX, tacrolimus, or anti TNF-α therapy, when cervical lymphadenopathy and extranodal disease are detected, OIIA-LPD should be suspected. We should cooperate with a hematologist-oncologist, a rheumatologist, and pathologist in such a case.
26740879 Tuberculous pericarditis leading to cardiac tamponade: importance of screening prior to im 2015 Dec Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) presenting with pericardial disease complicated by cardiac tamponade is rare in the developed world, although it occurs more frequently in the context of immunosuppression. In this report, a 74-year-old man on methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis presented with fever, productive cough and cough-induced syncope. During his admission, he developed clinical signs of cardiac tamponade confirmed on an echocardiogram, which showed a massive pericardial effusion. He was treated with an urgent pericardiocentesis and a pericardial window. Subsequently, TB polymerase chain reaction of pericardial fluid unexpectedly returned positive, and he was commenced on standard quadruple therapy for TB, as well as high-dose prednisolone. Notably, the patient did not have a history suggestive of previous TB exposure, and no screening investigations had been performed prior to initiation of methotrexate. This case highlights the importance of TB screening prior to immunosuppressive therapy, even in populations considered low risk for latent disease.
26915005 It's not what it looks like: challenges in diagnosis of synovial lesions of the knee joint 2016 Dec BACKGROUND: With the advent of MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), Synovial lesions around knee are being more and more easily detected. Synovial lesions of knee present with boggy swelling, effusion, pain, and restriction of motion. Differential diagnoses of such lesions include pigmented villonodular synovitis, synovial lipoma, synovial chondromatosis, rheumatoid arthritis, synovial hemangioma, amyloid arthropathy, xanthomata and lipoma arborescens. CT and MRI often help in diagnosis of such lesions. MRI of Lipoma Arborescens has been regarded to have characteristic diagnostic appearance - it includes a synovial mass with frond-like architecture and fat signal intensity on all pulse sequences. Sometimes Lipoma Arborescens can present in conjunction with inflammatory arthritis. Synovectomy is often curative for such conditions. FINDINGS: We report two cases where lesions diagnosed as Lipoma Arborescens on MRI subsequently revealed to be chronic inflammatory synovitis, characterized by absence of fat infiltration in histopathological examination - refuting the original diagnosis. There was infiltration of lymphocytes and neutrophils in the synovium, suggestive of chronic inflammatory arthritis. Both of these patients required management from rheumatologist, and had relief of symptoms after use of methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine. We also report a third case, where a loose body appearing as chondral fragment on arthroscopy was subsequently diagnosed as an organized hematoma on histopathological examination. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic pitfalls after MRI of the knee is not uncommon. For example - normal variant of meniscomeniscal ligaments have been reported as meniscal tears; motion artifacts have been falsely reported as meniscal injuries; and meniscofemoral ligament can appear as free osteochondral fragment. In most of these cases, a routine arthroscopy is enough to clear the confusion. However, as evident in the three cases described here - in some synovial lesions of knee joint, even after MRI and arthroscopic examination, histopathological confirmation may still be prudent. In spite of availability of advanced imaging technologies and high definition arthroscopy equipment, an arthroscopy surgeon still must not forget the value of histopathological examination in establishing the true nature of synovial lesions of the knee joint.
26559805 Immunogenicity of infliximab and adalimumab: what is its role in hypersensitivity and modu 2016 Jan INTRODUCTION: TNF-α inhibitors have demonstrated efficacy both as monotherapy and in combination with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in the treatment of chronic inflammatory immune-mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis, and may be administered off-label to treat disseminated granuloma annulare systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis. There are several TNF-α inhibitors available for clinical use including infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab, certolizumab pegol and etanercept. AREAS COVERED: infliximab and adalimumab can induce the development of anti-infliximab (anti-IFX) and anti-adalimumab (anti-ADA) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). In this review, we discuss the impact of anti-IFX and anti-ADA mAbs upon efficacy and safety of these biological agents. EXPERT OPINION: IgG/IgE neutralizing antibodies against infliximab and adalimumab decrease the possibility of achieving a minimal disease activity state or clinical remission, decrease drug survival, increase the need for doctors to prescribe a higher drug dosage and, finally, favor the occurrence of adverse events. Concomitant administration of DMARDs such as methotrexate or leflunomide prevents the development of neutralizing Abs against infliximab and adalimumab.
26281313 Prevention of methotrexate-induced nephrotoxicity by concomitant administration of garlic 2015 BACKGROUND/AIM: Methotrexate (MTX) has been widely used for treatment of cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, but its use has been limited by its nephrotoxicity. This study was carried out to determine whether garlic exerts a protective effect against MTX-induced nephrotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nephrotoxicity was induced in rats after a single i.p. injection of MTX (20 mg/kg). Garlic extract (1 mL/100 g b.w.) was given orally for 7 days before and after MTX administration. Serum samples were collected to evaluate urea, creatinine, sodium, phosphorous, potassium, and calcium. Reduced glutathione, catalase, adenosine deaminase, nitric oxide, and malondialdehyde were measured in renal tissue. Tubular injury was evaluated by histopathological examination. RESULTS: MTX increased urea and creatinine levels and led to imbalances in some electrolytes. It also depleted renal antioxidant enzyme levels and increased malondialdehyde, adenosine deaminase, and nitric oxide levels. Histopathological examination showed glomerular and tubular alterations. Pretreatment with garlic significantly improved renal function and increased renal antioxidant enzyme activities. Furthermore, garlic reduced renal oxidative stress and prevented alterations in renal morphology. CONCLUSION: Garlic treatment has a reversible biochemical and histological effect upon MTX-induced nephrotoxicity.
24939591 Production of anti TNF-α antibodies in eukaryotic cells using different combinations of v 2015 Oct Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) plays a key role in rheumatoid arthritis and some other autoimmune diseases. Therapy with anti-TNF-α recombinant antibodies (Ab) appears to be highly effective. Production of new hyper-producing eukaryotic cell lines can decrease the treatment cost, which currently is very high. However, due to the complexity of protein transcription, translation, processing, and secretion in mammalian cells, the stages at which antibody expression is affected are still poorly determined. The aim of this work was to compare the productivity of two cell lines developed in CHO DG44 cells, deficient in dihydrofolate reductase, transfected with vectors carrying either heavy (H) or light (L) chains of chimeric antibody under different combinations of selective elements. Both H and L chains were cloned either in pOptiVEC or pcDNA3.3 vectors and different combinations were used to produce HL and LH cell lines. We have shown that Ab production has been low and comparable between HL and LH cells until selection on methotrexate (MTX) when LH but not HL cells have responded with 3.5 times increased productivity. Flow cytometry analysis has demonstrated that intracellular concentration of full size Abs in LH cells was 5.6 times higher than in HL ones due to higher amount of H chain synthesis. No differences in viability between HL and LH cells have been found. We have concluded that the expression of H chain in the pOptiVEC vector, which is responsible for MTX resistance, has led to the suppression of H chain synthesis and limitation in full Ab assembly.
25440698 [Infliximab is effective in difficult-to-control peripheral ulcerative keratitis. A report 2015 May Peripheral ulcerative keratitis is caused by an inflammatory and destructive process of the perilimbal peripheral cornea. This inflammation is due to immune complex deposition in this region of the cornea and in adjacent vessels. It can be idiopathic, or a manifestation of systemic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis of small vessels associated with ANCA, relapsing polychondritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and Crohn's disease. Its treatment includes the use of high-dose corticosteroids and, in some cases, the concomitant use of immunosuppressants such as methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide or cyclosporine. The use of immunobiological agents can be a strategy in cases of difficult control. The authors describe the treatment of three patients who, after failure with the use of corticosteroids or immunosuppressants, showed good response after the use of infliximab.
25862150 Risk of incident chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease in patients with psori 2015 Jun BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that has been associated with various cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and diabetes mellitus. Recently, there are studies reporting the association of psoriasis with renal diseases. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk of incident chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in people with psoriasis. METHODS: We used the Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database to conduct a nationwide population-based cohort study to assess the risk of incident CKD and ESRD in people with psoriasis and to further evaluate the respective risk estimates in those with mild and severe psoriasis based on treatment patterns. RESULTS: A total of 4633 psoriatic patients and 922,534 nonpsoriatic controls were included. Severe psoriasis, but not mild psoriasis, was an independent risk factor of incident CKD and ESRD (adjusted hazard ratio being 1.90 (95% confidence interval 1.33-2.70) and 2.97 (95% confidence interval 1.72-5.11), respectively) after adjustment for potential confounders including age, gender, comorbidities, and used of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Severe psoriasis remained an independent risk factor of incident CKD and ESRD after various sensitivity analyses after adjusting for the presence of osteoarthritis and/or rheumatoid arthritis, use of methotrexate and/or cyclosporine, and chronic use of NSAIDs for at least 2 months. Psoriatic arthritis was an effect modifier for CKD and ESRD. CONCLUSIONS: The associations of severe psoriasis with CKD and ESRD should be recognized. Assessment of renal function and avoidance of long-term use of nephrotoxic drugs shall be implemented in the integrative care for patients with severe psoriasis.
26088004 Risk of liver injury among methotrexate users: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled tr 2015 Oct OBJECTIVE: Methotrexate is an effective treatment for a variety of inflammatory diseases. Robust evidence on the risk of serious liver injury is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative risk and severity of liver disease among patients treated with methotrexate. METHODS: We searched PubMed and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from 1 January 1990 to 24 April 2014 for double-blind randomised controlled trials of methotrexate versus comparator agents in adults with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease. Studies with less than 100 subjects or of less than 24 weeks' duration were excluded. Two investigators independently searched both the databases. All authors reviewed the selected studies. We compared relative risk (RR) differences using the Mantel-Haenszel random effects method to assess total liver adverse events, minor liver enzyme abnormalities (≤ 3 ULN), major liver enzyme abnormalities (>3 ULN or treatment withdrawal) and a composite outcome of liver failure, fibrosis, cirrhosis or death. RESULTS: A total of 32 studies with 13,177 participants met our inclusion criteria. Methotrexate was associated with an increased risk of total adverse liver events, RR = 2.19 (95% CI: 1.73-2.77, I(2) = 68%), as well as minor and major liver enzyme abnormalities, RR = 2.16 (95% CI: 1.67-2.79, I(2) = 68%) and RR = 2.63 (95% CI: 1.90-3.64, I(2) = 10%), respectively. Patients treated with methotrexate were not at increased risk of liver failure, cirrhosis or death, RR = 0.12 (95% CI: 0.01-1.09, I(2) = 0%). CONCLUSION: Our study found an increased risk of elevated transaminases but not liver failure, cirrhosis or death with methotrexate compared to other agents. We were unable to assess long-term liver toxicity due to the short duration of included clinical trials.
26651929 [Mycobacterium avium tumoral infection mimicking a lung adenocarcinoma: A potential diagno 2016 Apr INTRODUCTION: The incidence of atypical mycobacterial infection in Europe is estimated at one case per 100,000 persons/year. Despite the low incidence of Mycobacterium avium infection, it can result in a nodular lesion simulating lung cancer. We report a case of atypical mycobacteriosis, mimicking lung cancer, which led to a lobectomy. CASE REPORT: It was a right pulmonary upper lobe nodule found in a 63-year-old COPD patient, partially nephrectomized for renal carcinoma, and weekly treated by methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis. FDG uptake was weakly positive on PET-CT (SUV=2.2) in the upper fissure. Bronchoscopy yielded no lesions and no bacteriological findings. Percutaneous transthoracic lung biopsy revealed lung adenocarcinoma stage T1 (a) N0M0. An upper lobectomy with lymphadenectomy was performed. Histological examination revealed epithelioid granuloma surrounded by giant cells suggestive of tuberculomas. The bronchial washing fluid culture was positive for Mycobacterium avium after 7 weeks. CONCLUSION: In pseudo-neoplastic forms of atypical mycobacteriosis, the presence of alveolar, inflammatory cytonuclear abnormalities can mimic an adenocarcinoma. Making the difference between the cytonuclears defects related to inflammation or neoplasia remains a daily challenge in histopathology.
24964172 The efficiency of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in hemorrhagic mucositis and febri 2015 Methotrexate (MTX) remains one of the most frequently used anti-metabolite agents in dermatology. MTX is an analog of folate that competitively and irreversibly inhibits dihydrofolate reductase. Oral mucositis is a common side effect of chemotherapy drugs and is characterized by erythema, pain, poor oral intake, pseudomembranous destruction, open ulceration and hemorrhage of the oral mucosa. In this paper, we report a 32-year-old female with a case of mucositis due to MTX intoxication that resulted from an overdose for rheumatoid arthritis. The patient had abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea. During follow-up, the patient's white blood cell count was found to be 0.9 × 10(9)/L (4-10 × 10(9)/L). The patient developed fever exceeding 40 °C. The patient was consulted to the hematology service. They suggested using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for febrile neutropenia. On the fifth day of treatment, the white blood cell count reached 5.3 × 10(9)/L and the patient's fever and mucositis started to resolve. Here, we presented a case of hemorrhagic mucositis and febrile neutropenia resulted from high-dose MTX that responded very well to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor treatment and we reviewed the literature.
26062617 [New Indings in Methotrexate Pharmacology -  Diagnostic Possibilities and Impact on Clin 2015 Methotrexate is an anti-cancer drug used to treat several malignancies including pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia and choriocarcinoma. Despite recent advances in cancer chemotherapy, it remains a mainstay of therapy since its discovery in the early second half of the previous century. Moreover, low-dose methotrexate is a gold standard antirheumatic drug in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, systemic scleroderma and other autoimmune disorders. Side effects of methotrexate treatment are well known and described; however, their occurrence may often be unpredictable due to lack of specific biomarkers of toxicity. Methotrexate plasma levels are routinely monitored by therapeutic drug monitoring, nevertheless, occurrence and concentrations of its metabolites are not measured. During methotrexate treatment 7- hydroxymethotrexate and 2,4- diamino- N10- mehylpteroic acid appear in plasma. The latter can further be hydroxylated and glucuronidated resulting in five possible extracellular methotrexate metabolites. In addition, methotrexate is intracellularly converted to its active polyglutamylated forms. Therapeutic efficacy is dependent on formation of methotrexate polyglutamates as it keeps intracellular pool of the drug and enhances its affinity towards various target enzymes. In this study, we describe pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of methotrexate metabolites. We also review methotrexate blood brain barrier transport to cerebrospinal fluid regarding its use in the prevention of leukemic central nervous system involvement and management of methotrexate toxicity with the use of carboxypeptidase- G2. Finally, we discuss laboratory methods for monitoring methotrexate metabolites and benefits of simultaneous determination of methotrexate and metabolites as possible biomarkers of therapeutic efficacy and clinical toxicity.
26493510 [A Case of Crohn's Disease Showing Favorable Response to Induction and Maintenance Therapy 2015 Oct Thanks to the introduction of immumomodulators and biologics, therapeutic approaches in Crohn's disease have changed significantly during the past decade. Although new biologic therapy has dramatically improved the treatment of Crohn's disease, a substantial number of patients are refractory to these therapies or lose their initial response. Methotrexate (MTX) is a structural analogue of folic acid that can competitively inhibit the binding of dihydrofolic acid to the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase and has been widely used as immunomodulator in rheumatology area for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Although MTX has also been shown to be an effective agent for remission induction and maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease, the use of MTX in Crohn's disease has not yet been reported in Korea. Herein, we report a case of Crohn's disease patient who was successfully treated with MTX after treatment failure with thiopurine and anti-tumor necrosis factor.
27957282 Atypical methotrexate ulcerative stomatitis with features of lymphoproliferative like diso 2016 Dec Methotrexate (MTX) is an established immunomodulating agent used in low doses (LDMTX) to treat several autoimmune diseases. Ulcerative stomatitis (US) may be observed as a long-term LDMTX adverse effect showing a wide histopathologic spectrum. A 73-year old female presented with painful oral ulcers of 5 days duration. The patient had been under treatment for rheumatoid arthritis with LDMTX, while one week before presentation she was prescribed ciprofloxacin for a urinary infection. Histopathologic examination of a lingual ulcer revealed a polymorphous lymphohistiocytic proliferation with scattered binucleated atypical lymphocytes. Immunohistochemically, most cells were of T-cell lineage while the EBER test was negative and a diagnosis of MTX-induced reactive ulceration was rendered. MTX cessation resulted in complete resolution of the ulcers with no recurrences reported so far. The clinical and histopathologic features of MTX-induced oral ulcers are not always diagnostic and a detailed history and an extensive clinicopathologic investigation may be needed to exclude a lymphoproliferative disorder. Key words:Atypical oral ulcers, ciprofloxacin, lymphoproliferative disorders, methotrexate.