Open AccessMethotrexate-induced pneumonitis in Crohn’s disease
Author(s) -
N D'Andrea,
Luca Triolo,
Giovanna Margagi,
Annalisa Aratari,
Claudio M. Sanguinetti
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
multidisciplinary respiratory medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.72
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 2049-6958
pISSN - 1828-695X
DOI - 10.4081/mrm.2010.558
Subject(s) - medicine , methotrexate , rheumatoid arthritis , pneumonia , pneumonitis , hypersensitivity pneumonitis , lung , disease , spirometry , gastroenterology , surgery , radiology , asthma
Methotrexate (MTX) is a folate-antagonist used in several neoplastic and inflammatory diseases. Reports of pulmonary complications in patients given low-dose MTX therapy are increasing. Pulmonary toxicity from MTX has a variable fre- quency and can present with different forms. Most often MTX-induced pneumonia in patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is reported. In this paper we describe a case of MTX-related pneumonitis in a relatively young woman affected by Crohn's disease who presented non-productive cough, fever and dyspnea on exer- cise. Chest X-ray demonstrated bilateral interstitial infil- trates and at computed tomography (CT) ground-glass opac- ities appeared in both lungs. At spirometry an obstructive defect was demonstrated. A rapid improvement of symptoms and the regression of radiographic and spirometric alter- ations was achieved through MTX withdrawal and the intro- duction of corticosteroid therapy.