Disaccharidases activity in the intestinal mucosa after methotrexate therapy.

Disaccharidases activity in the intestinal mucosa samples of rats was examined after intragastric and intramuscular methotrexate therapy. Methotrexate was given on a twice a week schedule (1 mg/kg body weight). The animals were sacrificed after 2 weeks, 1 month, and 2 months of this therapy. A statistically significant but transient decrease of the lactase and maltase activity was found. The authors suggest studying the beneficial effect of low disaccharidase diet in the first period of methotrexate therapy in children treated with methotrexate.