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Published in: Clinical Rheumatology 10/2011

01-10-2011 | Case Based Review

Methotrexate-induced pulmonary toxicity in psoriatic arthritis (PsA): case presentation and literature review

Authors: Federico Rondon, Odilio Mendez, Nestor Spinel, Carlos Ochoa, Cristian Saavedra, Edgar Penaranda, Ignacio Garcia-Valladares, Luis R. Espinoza, Antonio Iglesias-Gamarra

Published in: Clinical Rheumatology | Issue 10/2011

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Abstract

A 45-year-old female with a 4-week history of psoriatic arthritis developed cough, fever, and progressive shortness of breath 2 weeks following initiation of methotrexate therapy. High resolution CT of chest revealed bilateral basal interstitial involvement and diffuse ground glass opacities. Patient, though, died despite immediate discontinuation of methotrexate and initiation of treatment with IV methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide. Post-mortem examination showed diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Methotrexate-induced pulmonary toxicity is a serious event, unpredictable, and unusual, especially in patients with psoriatic arthritis, and although reversible, it may be fatal.
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Metadata
Title
Methotrexate-induced pulmonary toxicity in psoriatic arthritis (PsA): case presentation and literature review
Authors
Federico Rondon
Odilio Mendez
Nestor Spinel
Carlos Ochoa
Cristian Saavedra
Edgar Penaranda
Ignacio Garcia-Valladares
Luis R. Espinoza
Antonio Iglesias-Gamarra
Publication date
01-10-2011
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Clinical Rheumatology / Issue 10/2011
Print ISSN: 0770-3198
Electronic ISSN: 1434-9949
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-011-1765-7

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