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Oral effects of low-dose methotrexate treatment

Athanasios Kalantzis1, Zoe Marshman, Denis T Falconer

  • 1Department of Oral Pathology, GKT Dental Institute, Guy's Tower, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK. thanasiskalantzis@hotmail.com

Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontics
|June 15, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Low-dose methotrexate, often used for rheumatoid arthritis, can cause unrecognized oral complications like ulcers and lymphoma-like lesions. Dental professionals should monitor patients for these potential adverse effects.

Area of Science:

  • Oral Medicine
  • Rheumatology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Low-dose methotrexate is increasingly prescribed for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
  • While general adverse effects are documented, oral complications are underrecognized.
  • Understanding methotrexate's pharmacology is crucial for identifying toxicity mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the uses and pharmacology of low-dose methotrexate.
  • To elucidate mechanisms of general and oral toxicity.
  • To discuss literature and present cases of oral adverse effects.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review on low-dose methotrexate and oral toxicity.
  • Presentation of 7 illustrative clinical cases.
  • Analysis of oral adverse effects ranging from ulcers to lymphoma-like lesions.

Main Results:

  • Low-dose methotrexate is associated with a spectrum of oral complications.
  • Observed oral effects include nonhealing ulcers and lymphoma-like lesions.
  • These adverse effects have been largely unrecognized in dental practice.

Conclusions:

  • Dental practitioners must be aware of potential oral side effects of low-dose methotrexate.
  • Early recognition and management of oral complications are essential.
  • Further research is needed to fully understand and mitigate these risks.

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