37287
document
Methotrexate in the treatment of steroid-dependent asthma . A double-blind , placebo-controlled , crossover study was designed to compare steroid requirements between placebo and methotrexate ( MTX ) treatment in subjects with corticosteroid-requiring asthma . Subjects began with a steroid taper and then were randomized to a 3-month trial of drug or placebo therapy . Subjects received 15 mg of MTX a week or identical placebo . A 1-month washout period was completed before the crossover trial . Symptom scores , peak flow rates , spirometry , and beta-agonist frequency were closely monitored . Ten subjects completed the study . The average dose of prednisone during the placebo-treatment period was 11.97 mg/day compared to 8.37 mg/day while subjects were taking MTX . This was a 30 % reduction in daily steroid requirement ( p less than 0.01 ) . Symptom scores and spirometry did not differ between the crossover trials , and overall clinical status was not altered . Complications from MTX were mild and included anorexia , alopecia , and stomatitis . All complications resolved with dose reduction or when MTX was stopped at the end of the study . No subjects withdrew from the study because of MTX complications . Low-dose MTX significantly reduced the steroid requirement in this group of subjects with steroid-dependent asthma . This reduction in steroid requirement was obtained without altering clinical status and without significant complication .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
Methotrexate
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Intervention_Control
placebo-controlled
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Intervention_Control
placebo
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Intervention_Pharmacological
methotrexate
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Intervention_Control
placebo therapy .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
MTX
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Intervention_Control
placebo .
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Intervention_Control
placebo-treatment
37296
Intervention_Pharmacological
MTX
37297
Intervention_Pharmacological
MTX
37298
Intervention_Pharmacological
MTX
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Intervention_Pharmacological
MTX
37300
Intervention_Pharmacological
MTX
37301
Outcome_Other
steroid requirements
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Outcome_Physical
Symptom scores
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Outcome_Physical
peak flow rates
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Outcome_Other
spirometry
37305
Outcome_Physical
beta-agonist frequency
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Outcome_Other
daily steroid requirement
37307
Outcome_Physical
Symptom scores
37308
Outcome_Other
spirometry
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Outcome_Adverse-effects
Complications from MTX
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Outcome_Adverse-effects
anorexia , alopecia , and stomatitis
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Outcome_Adverse-effects
complications
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Outcome_Other
steroid requirement
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Outcome_Other
reduction in steroid requirement
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Participant_Condition
steroid-dependent asthma
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Participant_Condition
asthma
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Participant_Sample-size
Ten subjects
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Participant_Condition
asthma