Patient reported side-effects of prednisone and methotrexate in a real-world sarcoidosis population. (21st September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kahlmann, Vivienne; Moor, Catharina C; Veltkamp, Marcel; Wijsenbeek, Marlies S
• Is Part Of: Chronic respiratory disease. Volume 18(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09-21
• Subjects: Sarcoidosis -- quality of life -- prednisone -- methotrexate -- treatment -- side-effects; Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.2005
• DOI: 10.1177/14799731211031935
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1479-9723

Abstract

Currently prednisone is the first-line pharmacological treatment option for pulmonary sarcoidosis. Methotrexate is used as second-line therapy and seems to have fewer side-effects. No prospective comparative studies of first-line treatment with methotrexate exist. In this study, we evaluated patient reported presence and bothersomeness of side-effects of prednisone and methotrexate in a sarcoidosis population to guide the design of a larger prospective study. During a yearly patient information meeting 67 patients completed a questionnaire on medication use; 11 patients never used prednisone or methotrexate and were excluded from further analysis. Of the remaining 56 patients, 89% used prednisone and 70% methotrexate (present or former). Significantly more side-effects were reported for prednisone than for methotrexate, 78% versus 49% ( p = 0.006). In conclusion, methotrexate seems to have fewer and less bothersome side-effects than prednisone. These findings need to be confirmed in a prospective study.