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Caron AGM, Bloem M, El Khattabi H, de Waal AC, van Huizen AM, Denswil NP, Gerbens LAA, Spuls PI. The wide variety of methotrexate dosing regimens for the treatment of atopic dermatitis: a systematic review. J DERMATOL TREAT 2024; 35:2292962. [PMID: 38124505 DOI: 10.1080/09546634.2023.2292962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Background:Methotrexate is an off-label therapy for atopic dermatitis. A lack of consensus on dosing regimens poses a risk of underdosing and ineffective treatment or overdosing and increased risk of side effects. This systematic review summarizes the available evidence on dosing regimens.Materials and methods:A literature search was conducted, screening all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and guidelines published up to 6 July 2023, in the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases.Results:Five RCTs and 21 guidelines were included. RCTs compared methotrexate with other treatments rather than different methotrexate dosing regimens. The start and maintenance doses in RCTs varied between 7.5-15 mg/week and 14.5-25 mg/week, respectively. Despite varied dosing, all RCTs demonstrated efficacy in improving atopic dermatitis signs and symptoms. Guidelines exhibited substantial heterogeneity but predominantly proposed starting doses of 5-15 mg/week for adults and 10-15 mg/m2/week for children. Maintenance doses suggested were 7.5-25 mg/week for adults and 0.2-0.7 mg/kg/week for children. One guideline suggested a test dose and nearly half advised folic acid supplementation.Conclusion:This systematic review highlights the lack of methotrexate dosing guidelines for atopic dermatitis. It identifies commonly recommended and utilized dosing regimens, serving as a valuable resource for clinicians prescribing methotrexate off-label and providing input for an upcoming consensus study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anouk G M Caron
- Dermatology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Infection and Immunity, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Manja Bloem
- Surgical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hajar El Khattabi
- Dermatology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ayla C de Waal
- Dermatology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Astrid M van Huizen
- Dermatology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Infection and Immunity, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nerissa P Denswil
- Medical Library, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Louise A A Gerbens
- Dermatology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Infection and Immunity, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Phyllis I Spuls
- Dermatology, Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Infection and Immunity, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Brandling-Bennett HA, Arkin LM, Chiu YE, Hebert AA, Callen JP, Castelo-Soccio L, Co DO, Cordoro KM, Curran ML, Dalrymple AM, Flohr C, Gordon KB, Hanna D, Irvine AD, Kim S, Kirkorian AY, Lara-Corrales I, Lindstrom J, Paller AS, Reyes M, Begolka WS, Tom WL, Van Voorhees AS, Vleugels RA, Lee LW, Davies O, Siegfried EC. Executive summary: Consensus treatment guidelines for the use of methotrexate for inflammatory skin disease in pediatric patients. J Am Acad Dermatol 2024; 90:1271-1275. [PMID: 38342248 PMCID: PMC11096036 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Heather A Brandling-Bennett
- Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington; Division of Dermatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
| | - Lisa M Arkin
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Yvonne E Chiu
- Department of Dermatology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Adelaide A Hebert
- Department of Dermatology, UTHealth McGovern Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Jeffrey P Callen
- Department of Dermatology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Leslie Castelo-Soccio
- Dermatology Branch, National Institutes of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Dominic O Co
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Kelly M Cordoro
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Megan L Curran
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Austin M Dalrymple
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Carsten Flohr
- Department of Paediatric Dermatology, St John's Institute of Dermatology, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Ken B Gordon
- Department of Dermatology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | | | - Alan D Irvine
- Department of Paediatric Dermatology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Susan Kim
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - A Yasmine Kirkorian
- Department of Dermatology, George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia; Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Irene Lara-Corrales
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jill Lindstrom
- Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Amy S Paller
- Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Melissa Reyes
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | | | - Wynnis L Tom
- Departments of Dermatology and Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California; Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Abby S Van Voorhees
- Department of Dermatology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia
| | - Ruth Ann Vleugels
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lara Wine Lee
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Olivia Davies
- Department of Dermatology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Elaine C Siegfried
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri
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Westerkam LL, McShane DB, Nieman EL, Morrell DS. Treatment Options for Alopecia Areata in Children and Adolescents. Paediatr Drugs 2024; 26:245-257. [PMID: 38466519 DOI: 10.1007/s40272-024-00620-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Alopecia areata (AA) lifetime incidence is around 2%, with many patients first experiencing symptoms during childhood. However, ritlecitinib is the only FDA-approved treatment for pediatric patients 12 years and older. This review outlines reported topical, injectable, and oral treatment options for pediatric patients with AA. Clinical studies were obtained via a PubMed search using the following search terms: alopecia areata, areata, universalis, or totalis and medication, therapy, treatment, drug, or management. Only studies with pediatric patients were included in this review. Commonly used therapies, including corticosteroids, methotrexate, and minoxidil, newer promising medications, such as Janus kinase inhibitors, and less frequently used topical and systemic treatments are included. A summary of the drug development pipeline and ongoing interventional clinical trials with pediatric patients is provided. Treatments demonstrate variable efficacy, and many patients require combination therapy for maximal response. More robust clinical data is needed for many of the medications reviewed in order to provide better care for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diana B McShane
- Department of Dermatology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Elizabeth L Nieman
- Department of Dermatology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Dean S Morrell
- Department of Dermatology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Kiełbowski K, Bakinowska E, Pawlik A. How can we optimize the use of methotrexate to treat pediatric patients with inflammatory skin diseases? Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2024; 20:111-118. [PMID: 38429876 DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2024.2326245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Methotrexate (MTX) is a folic acid antagonist used in clinical practice in oncology and rheumatology, as well as in the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions in children. The low-doses of MTX are commonly used in children for the treatment of many inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, including inflammatory skin diseases, due to its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. AREAS COVERED This review discusses the possibilities for optimizing the use of methotrexate in the treatment of pediatric patients with inflammatory skin diseases. A thorough search through PubMed and Embase databases was performed to identify relevant literature. EXPERT OPINION Clinical observations confirm the high efficacy and safety of low-dose MTX in children with inflammatory skin diseases. Unfortunately, to date there are few studies providing guidelines on the optimal dosage of MTX in children with inflammatory skin diseases; routes of administration; principles of monitoring; and the safety of long-term use of this medication in children. There is still a need for specific recommendations on the safest and most effective dosing and monitoring regimen for children treated with methotrexate for inflammatory skin diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kajetan Kiełbowski
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Estera Bakinowska
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Andrzej Pawlik
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
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Wang Q, Chen L. Methotrexate therapy for adult and paediatric moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: A PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis of data from daily practice. Australas J Dermatol 2024; 65:114-127. [PMID: 37941136 DOI: 10.1111/ajd.14183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Of the 15 eligible studies identified via electronic searches in MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL in November 2022 for methotrexate therapy of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, 12 were non-randomized controlled trial (non-RCT) studies with data from 437 patients (235 adults and 202 children). The response rates for short-term therapy were 77% [95% CI 55-99] (four studies; adults) - comparable to 81% [54-100] of RCTs (two studies; adults) (p = 0.63) - and 61% [43-79] (two studies; children), and for medium/long-term therapy were 88.9% [74.3-100.0] (four studies; adults) and 77.7% [61.5-94.0] (three studies; children). Children had a markedly lower rate of treatment discontinuation due to side effects [2.0% (five studies; children) vs. 14.9% (six studies; adults)], but were more likely to experience gastrointestinal disorders {relative risk (RR) 2.0 [1.44-2.71]}, fatigue (RR 2.3 [1.35-3.72]), headache (RR 2.8 [1.23-5.61]), and infections (RR 2.9 [2.18-3.58]). Other adverse events (children vs. adults) included hepatic disorders (32/176 vs. 35/305) and blood and lymphatic system/bone marrow disorders (25/148 vs. 19/184). Four serious adverse events were reported (children). Evidence from daily practice was limited by bias in the selection of participants in the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaohong Wang
- Department of Rheumatology, Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liheng Chen
- Department of Endocrinology, Fourth Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, China
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Barak Levitt JA, Alemi S, Ollech A, Reiss-Huss S, Sah M, Renert-Yuval Y, Friedland R, Greenberger S, Cohen Barak E. Treatment with Methotrexate in Infants and Toddlers with Atopic Dermatitis: A Retrospective Multi-Center Study. J Clin Med 2023; 12:5409. [PMID: 37629451 PMCID: PMC10455795 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12165409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting up to 20% of children. Methotrexate (MTX) is used off-label as a systemic treatment for AD patients unresponsive to topical therapies, but limited data exist regarding its safety and efficacy in children, especially in those < 4 years old. To further investigate MTX in younger patients, we screened the medical records of three referral centers between 2016 and 2022 and identified 28 infants and toddlers < 4 years old with AD treated with MTX. Mean age upon MTX initiation was 2.7 ± 1.2 years and mean investigator global assessment (IGA) score was 3.78 ± 0.4. Median duration of MTX treatment was five months. Following 12 and 24 weeks of MTX treatment, the response rate was 50% and IGA 0/1 was achieved in 14.2% and 21.4% of patients, respectively. Most treatment cessations were attributed to a lack of efficacy or parental concern. Although adverse events were reported in 57.1% of patients, MTX was discontinued due to such adverse events only in two patients (7.1%). Taken together, MTX demonstrated a high safety profile in AD patients <4 years old. MTX efficacy was moderate and presumably underestimated by parents who opted for premature treatment cessation due to concerns associated with an immunomodulatory drug.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sima Alemi
- Department of Dermatology, Emek Medical Center, Afula 1834111, Israel
| | - Ayelet Ollech
- Department of Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology Service, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan 5265601, Israel
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Shiran Reiss-Huss
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Pediatric Dermatology Unit, Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tikva 4920235, Israel
| | - Mohammad Sah
- Department of Dermatology, Emek Medical Center, Afula 1834111, Israel
| | - Yael Renert-Yuval
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Pediatric Dermatology Unit, Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tikva 4920235, Israel
| | - Rivka Friedland
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Pediatric Dermatology Unit, Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tikva 4920235, Israel
| | - Shoshana Greenberger
- Department of Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology Service, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan 5265601, Israel
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Eran Cohen Barak
- Department of Dermatology, Emek Medical Center, Afula 1834111, Israel
- The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa 3200003, Israel
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