Thoracic Research and Practice
Original Article

Pulmonary Involvement in a Patient With Psoriasis Due to Methotrexate Therapy

1.

Dr. Suat Seren Göğüs Hastalıkları ve Cerrahisi Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Göğüs Hastalıkları Kliniği, İzmir

2.

Dr. Suat Seren Göğüs Hastalıkları ve Cerrahisi Eğitim ve Araştıma Hastanesi, Göğüs Hastalıkları Kliniği, İzmir

Thorac Res Pract 2003; 4: Toraks Dergisi 179-182
Read: 1271 Downloads: 678 Published: 18 July 2019

Abstract

Methotrexate (MTX) is a folate antagonist used in several chronic inflammatory and neoplastic conditions. Pulmonary involvement is a rare adverse effect of MTX therapy and is particularly uncommon in psoriasis therapy. A 44-yearold male patient admitted to our hospital with shortness of breath, dry cough and fever. He was started on a MTX treatment 65 days ago and has taken 325mg cumulative dose of MTX. Chest-X-ray revealed diffuse bilateral interstitial infiltrates. Chest computed tomography (CT) scans demonstrated bilateral interstitial and alveolar infiltrates, peribroncho- vascular thickening and interlobular septal thickening. Pulmonary function studies revealed a restrictive ventilatory defect. After MTX treatment was discontinued, his symptoms rapidly resolved. Complete improvement was determined in pulmonary function tests and radiological changes on thoracic CT scan one month after the discontinuation of the MTX treatment. As interstitial pneumonitis is a potentially fatal but reversible complication, early respiratory symptoms even in patients on low-dose MTX treatment should be appropriately investigated.

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EISSN 2979-9139