En el nostre estudi describim la tolerància i l’efecte estalviador de corticoides orals del metotrexate a llarg plaç en un estudi observacional. Es varen estudiar 44 asmàtics cortico-depenents amb 10 mg a la setmana de metotrexate oral per via oral i van ser seguits de forma prospectiva durant 91.3±39.5 mesos. La dosi mitja acumulada de metrotrexate va ser de 3.499±2.207 mg. La dosid de corticoides es va reduir de 15.1±8.2 a 2.64±5.35 mg (p&0.008) i es van poder retirar totalment en 25 pacients. Als 17 pacients restants la dosi es va reduir de 17.1±9.1 mg a 6.5±6.8 mg. The FEV1 no va canviar. Els corticoides orals es van poder retirar completament en el 59% dels pacients. Nosaltres no som capaços de identificar un factor predictor que permeti identificar quins pacients obtindran un major benefici amb metrotrexate.

In our study we describe the drug’s tolerance and oral corticosteroid sparing capacity in a long-term observational study. Forty-four patients with steroid-dependent asthma treated with 10 mg per week of oral MTX were prospectively followed for 91.3±39.5 months. The mean accumulated dose of MTX was 3.499±2.207 mg. Corticosteroid use was reduced from 15.1±8.2 to 2.64±5.35 mg (p&0.008) and were withdrawn in 25 patients. In the remaining 17 the dose was reduced from 17.1±9.1 mg to 6.5±6.8 mg. The FEV1 did not change. Oral corticosteroids were withdrawn completely in 59% of patients. We were unable to identify a factor able to predict which patients would benefit most from MTX treatment.