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Methotrexate for treatment of atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents
Author(s) -
Deo Maneka,
Yung Anthony,
Hill Sarah,
Rademaker Marius
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1111/ijd.12314
Subject(s) - medicine , methotrexate , atopic dermatitis , tolerability , adverse effect , nausea , population , dermatology , pediatrics , retrospective cohort study , surgery , environmental health
Background Low‐dose methotrexate is becoming established as a second‐line treatment for atopic eczema in the adult population, but there has been a paucity of data to support its use for this indication in the pediatric population. Methods A retrospective review was undertaken of patients aged 18 years and under started on methotrexate between January 2005 and April 2010, at a hospital‐based dermatology department in New Zealand. Results Thirty‐one patients (17 females, mean age 10 years, range 3–18 years) were reviewed. Methotrexate was found to be effective or very effective in 75% and ineffective in 25%. The mean duration of treatment for those who responded to methotrexate was 14 months (range 2–38 months), 74% of patients were still on treatment at the time of last review. The most common adverse effect was minor nausea in four patients (14%) and non‐significant elevation of liver enzymes (four patients). No serious adverse effects were noted. Conclusion In our experience, methotrexate has a good safety/tolerability profile when used in low dose for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents and appears to be effective. Formal comparative studies are needed.