Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026

The Goeckerman Regimen for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis
Published on: July 11, 2013
Methotrexate for treatment of atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents
Maneka Deo1, Anthony Yung, Sarah Hill
1Department of Dermatology, Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand.
Background:
Low-dose methotrexate is becoming established as a second-line treatment for atopic eczema in the adult population, but there has been a paucity of data to support its use for this indication in the pediatric population.
Methods:
A retrospective review was undertaken of patients aged 18 years and under started on methotrexate between January 2005 and April 2010, at a hospital-based dermatology department in New Zealand.
Results:
Thirty-one patients (17 females, mean age 10 years, range 3-18 years) were reviewed. Methotrexate was found to be effective or very effective in 75% and ineffective in 25%. The mean duration of treatment for those who responded to methotrexate was 14 months (range 2-38 months), 74% of patients were still on treatment at the time of last review. The most common adverse effect was minor nausea in four patients (14%) and non-significant elevation of liver enzymes (four patients). No serious adverse effects were noted.
Conclusion:
In our experience, methotrexate has a good safety/tolerability profile when used in low dose for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in children and adolescents and appears to be effective. Formal comparative studies are needed.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Affecting Factors
Acne Infection
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Glucocorticoids
Antiasthma Drugs: Leukotriene Modifiers
Leukotriene modifiers work through two distinct mechanisms:
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase

