Response to methotrexate in fibrosing alveolitis associated with connective tissue disease

Methotrexate by intermittent intramuscular injection was used to treat three patients with fibrosing alveolitis complicating connective tissue diseases. All three patients had improvement of symptoms, two had radiological improvement, and one had significant improvement of pulmonary function. Two patients whose pulmonary symptoms, function, and chest radiographs had deteriorated on penicillamine improved when treated with methotrexate. Methotrexate may be a useful treatment for fibrosing alveolitis complicating connective tissue diseases.