Acute intoxication with methotrexate used as an abortive. Report of two cases

Acute intoxication with methotrexate, used as an abortive, has not been des cribed in Chile. We report two females patients, aged 15 and 24 years old, who presented with mucositis, erythrodermia, pancytopenia, and elevation of hepatic enzymes. Plasma methotrexate levels confirms the clinical diagnosi s and both patients were treated with high leucovorin doses and management of associated complications. In one patient, pregnancy continued, giving bi rth to a newborn with cranial, face and limb malformation. The second patie nt had a late rescue with leucovorin and was discharged with a persistent s ensory motor neuropathy. Considering the severity of complications and that patients may deny its use, when there is reasonable clinical suspicion of methotrexate intoxication, leucovorin treatment should be started.