Abstract

METHOTREXATE INDUCED ORAL MUCOSITIS – A CASE REPORT

Infant Smily Alphonse*, Santhoshini Dhevi Kathirvel, Priya Biji, Sheik Haja Sherief, Sivakumar Thangavel

ABSTRACT

Methotrexate is a well recognized drug of choice for various neoplastic diseases, where as in modern field of medicine, it is being used as once a week, low-dose regimen for the treatment of psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Along with its wonderful therapeutic efficacy, it also has some side effects like oral ulceration which may be due to lack of folic acid supplementation or over dosage due to confusion regarding its once-weekly regime. In this report, we describe patients with inherent Methotrexate toxicity that developed oral mucositis and pancytopenia due to Methotrexate being given for rheumatoid arthritis. Proper education and earlier diagnosis of toxicities related to such a drug with narrow therapeutic index can be beneficial.

Keywords: Folic acid deficiency, Methotrexate, Oral mucositis, Rheumatoid Arthritis.