[Methotrexate therapy of polymyalgia rheumatica]

Twenty-seven patients with polymyalgia rheumatica were treated with methotrexate. In comparison with 295 patients with other inflammatory rheumatic diseases under methotrexate therapy, a favorable rate of therapeutic effect and a low rate of side-effects could be observed. Remissions appeared in the mean after 6 months (1-24 months). Therapeutic failures (1/27) or side-effects inducing breaking off the therapy (2/27) were rare. Methotrexate seems to be a useful possibility to supplement the corticosteroid therapy of polymyalgia rheumatica.