Methotrexate for Chronic Diseases in Adults

Abstract

More than 40 years after the initial report¹ of a beneficial effect of aminopterin, the parent compound of methotrexate, in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, there is a resurgence of interest in the use of methotrexate in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In this issue of the Journal, Feagan and colleagues report that in a 16-week double-blind trial, intramuscular methotrexate (25 mg once weekly) was more effective than placebo in improving symptoms and reducing requirements for prednisone in patients with chronically active Crohn's disease.² A greater proportion of patients were in clinical remission in the methotrexate group (39.4 percent) than in the . . .