Yossi Taieb1,2, Sharon Baum1,2, Dan Ben Amitai2,3, Aviv Barzilai1,2, Shoshana Greenberger1,2. 1. a Dermatology Department , Sheba Medical Center , Ramat Gan , Israel. 2. b Sackler Faculty of Medicine , Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel. 3. c Dermatology Unit , Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel , Petah Tikva , Israel.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Methotrexate is an off-label systemic agent for treating uncontrolled atopic dermatitis. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the safety and efficacy of methotrexate in pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study assessed pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis who were treated with methotrexate. RESULTS: Medical records of 26 pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis were reviewed. All the patients had Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) scores of 3-4 and had received systemic therapy before receiving methotrexate. In all, 53.85% patients showed clinical improvement at 3 and 6 months after methotrexate initiation. The IGA scores of the patients decreased significantly at 3 months after methotrexate initiation compared with those at baseline; moreover, the IGA scores of the patients at 6 months after methotrexate initiation were lower than those at 3 months after methotrexate initiation. In all, 54% study patients are still undergoing methotrexate treatment. Median satisfaction rate with methotrexate was 7.5/10. However, 10.35% patients developed adverse events, of which only one patient discontinued the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that methotrexate is a tolerable and effective agent for treating refractory childhood atopic dermatitis.
BACKGROUND:Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Methotrexate is an off-label systemic agent for treating uncontrolled atopic dermatitis. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the safety and efficacy of methotrexate in pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study assessed pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis who were treated with methotrexate. RESULTS: Medical records of 26 pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis were reviewed. All the patients had Investigator Global Assessment (IGA) scores of 3-4 and had received systemic therapy before receiving methotrexate. In all, 53.85% patients showed clinical improvement at 3 and 6 months after methotrexate initiation. The IGA scores of the patients decreased significantly at 3 months after methotrexate initiation compared with those at baseline; moreover, the IGA scores of the patients at 6 months after methotrexate initiation were lower than those at 3 months after methotrexate initiation. In all, 54% study patients are still undergoing methotrexate treatment. Median satisfaction rate with methotrexate was 7.5/10. However, 10.35% patients developed adverse events, of which only one patient discontinued the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that methotrexate is a tolerable and effective agent for treating refractory childhood atopic dermatitis.