RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Methotrexate for corticosteroid-resistant polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis
JF Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
JO Cleve Clin J Med
FD Cleveland Clinic
SP 253
OP 257
VO 56
IS 3
A1 Krall, Patricia L.
A1 Mazanec, Daniel J.
A1 Wilke, William S.
YR 1989
UL http://www.ccjm.org/content/56/3/253.abstract
AB Three patients (one with polymyalgia rheumatica with jaw claudication and two with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis) were initially treated using prednisone (4 0 - 6 0 mg daily). T h e response was good in all three, but each experienced exacerbation of symptoms and elevation of Westergren sedimentation rates (W S R) with dose reduction. The addition of methotrexate (7.5-12.5 mg/wk) resulted in diminished symptoms and lower W S R and proved to be steroid-sparing.