OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of a novel immunosuppressive regimen-combination Methotrexate/Prednisone (cMtx/P)-in the management of severe refractory rPPP. METHODS: In this multicenter, nonrandomized, retrospective, observational study, 408 consecutive patients diagnosed with persistent rPPP between 2017 and 19 were included. Patients with refractory symptoms despite 3 months of conventional therapy were initiated on a 4-week regimen of oral steroids. Persistence of symptoms at this point, that is, rPPP (n = 25; catheter based = 18, open surgical = 7) prompted therapy with Methotrexate (7.5-15 mg weekly) with folate supplementation along with low dose prednisone (5 mg PO) for a further 3 months. Patients were followed for a total of 11.3 ± 1.8 months. RESULTS: Treatment refractory rPPP occurred in 6.1% of the study population prompting immunosuppressive therapy with cMtx/P. All patients demonstrated complete symptom resolution following 3 months of treatment with an 85% decline in clinically significant pericardial effusions. One patient developed recurrent pericarditis during the 11-month follow-up. Therapy was well tolerated with no significant drug related adverse effects. CONCLUSION: cMtx/P therapy is a safe and effective adjunct in the management of rPPP refractory to standard therapy.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of a novel immunosuppressive regimen-combination Methotrexate/Prednisone (cMtx/P)-in the management of severe refractory rPPP. METHODS: In this multicenter, nonrandomized, retrospective, observational study, 408 consecutive patients diagnosed with persistent rPPP between 2017 and 19 were included. Patients with refractory symptoms despite 3 months of conventional therapy were initiated on a 4-week regimen of oral steroids. Persistence of symptoms at this point, that is, rPPP (n = 25; catheter based = 18, open surgical = 7) prompted therapy with Methotrexate (7.5-15 mg weekly) with folate supplementation along with low dose prednisone (5 mg PO) for a further 3 months. Patients were followed for a total of 11.3 ± 1.8 months. RESULTS: Treatment refractory rPPP occurred in 6.1% of the study population prompting immunosuppressive therapy with cMtx/P. All patients demonstrated complete symptom resolution following 3 months of treatment with an 85% decline in clinically significant pericardial effusions. One patient developed recurrent pericarditis during the 11-month follow-up. Therapy was well tolerated with no significant drug related adverse effects. CONCLUSION: cMtx/P therapy is a safe and effective adjunct in the management of rPPP refractory to standard therapy.
Authors: Shady Nakhla; Amgad Mentias; Christopher Rymer; Ayman Hussein; Oussama Wazni; John Rickard; Bryan Baranowski; Daniel Cantillon; Allan L Klein; Paul C Cremer; Tyler L Taigen Journal: Heart Rhythm O2 Date: 2022-02-13