RESUMO
BACKGROUND: In the past ten years, methotrexate (MTX) has appeared as an alternative for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). AIM: To evaluate the use of MTX and the results of treatment in a group of patients with SLE. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 426 files of patients with SLE. Of these, all patients treated with MTX were selected. A review protocol was designed, stating sex, age, time of disease evolution, previous treatment, MTX prescription, doses, effectiveness and side effects. RESULTS: Seven patients were selected. All were women, with an age range of 26 to 62 years old and with 5 to 34 years of disease evolution. Previous treatment with non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, hydroxychloroquine and azathioprine ranged from 6 to 631 months (average=147.3). Persistent joint and/or skin manifestations were the main cause for the use of MTX. The dose ranged from 75 to 15 mg and the treatment lapse from 6 to 106 months. It was effective in all patients, allowing a reduction in prednisone doses. Two patients experienced a rise in serum transaminases and one had gastric intolerance, that required treatment discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS: MTX is rarely used in SLE. Its main prescription and effectiveness is in joint and skin manifestations, allowing to decrease steroid doses. However, side effects are frequent.