METHOTREXATE THERAPY OF AMYLOIDOSIS SECON DARY TO RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Amyloidosis secondary to rheumatoid arthritis is a complication with a poor prognosis and as yet an undefined medical therapy. In the last d ecades the use of different cytostatics has been advocated to avoid re nal function deterioration. The clinical characteristics and course in eight patients with amyloidosis secondary to rheumatoid arthritis are here reported after therapy with low dosage methotrexate. In twelve p atients who followed a 12-month therapy a clinical improvement was obs erved, with a marked decrease in proteinuria; in one of them proteinur ia disappeared. These results suggest that methotrexate at low doses m ight be an alternative in the early treatment of amyloidosis secondary to rheumatoid arthritis in patients with preserved renal function.