METHOTREXATE - TREATMENT OF RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS IN PATIENTS OF ADVANCED AGE

The authors report on the treatment results and side effects of a low- dose methotrexate treatment course (5-10 mg/week) applied to 35 patien ts of over 65 years of age (average 72 years) suffering from rheumatoi d arthritis. 29 of these 35 patients had been suffering from the disea se for many years, the duration being less than one year in 6 patients only. Hence the results of the course are of course of limited value; however, the low incidence of side effects at the chosen dosage level must be pointed out. Methotrexate can be recommended even for patient s of advanced age due to the fact that it is well tolerated and easy t o apply. Control, however, must be well organised and closely meshed.