Low-dose methotrexate: an effective corticosteroid-sparing agent in the musculoskeletal manifestations of sarcoidosis.

Extrapulmonary sarcoidosis, and particularly the presence of musculoskeletal complications of the disease, may require chronic corticosteroid therapy. In five patients with biopsy-proven sarcoidosis and presenting recalcitrant forms of the disease, we introduced low-dose oral methotrexate (MTX) [10 mg/week (7.5-15)] for 30 months (16-34) to control the clinical and biological symptoms as well as to try to reduce the intolerated steroid posology. Beneficial effects were observed within 8-12 weeks in all patients, which allowed a reduction of 59% (35-75) of the corticosteroid posology, and maintained with a follow-up of 3 yr in 4/5 patients. No significant toxicity was observed. MTX appears to be an efficient, safe and corticosteroid-sparing therapeutic agent for the treatment of recalcitrant musculoskeletal manifestations of sarcoidosis.