A Comparison of Methotrexate with Placebo for the Maintenance of Remission in Crohn's Disease

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 342; no. 22; pp. 1627 - 1632
• Main Authors: Feagan, Brian G, Fedorak, Richard N, Irvine, E. Jan, Wild, Gary, Sutherland, Lloyd, Steinhart, A. Hillary, Greenberg, Gordon R, Koval, John, Wong, Cindy J, Hopkins, Marybeth, Hanauer, Stephen B, McDonald, John W.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Massachusetts Medical Society 01-06-2000
• Subjects: Bowel disease; Drug therapy; methotrexate
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM200006013422202

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Since the cause of the disease is unknown,
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nonspecific antiinflammatory agents such as corticosteroids are frequently prescribed.
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However, the long-term use of corticosteroids is poorly tolerated.
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Therefore, a safe and effective long-term treatment that eliminates the need for corticosteroids is desirable. Although purine antimetabolites (mercaptopurine and azathioprine)
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are moderately effective, the disease often relapses despite treatment with these agents.
When used as therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, methotrexate frequently reduces or eliminates the need for corticosteroids.
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Therefore, it is reasonable to hypothesize that it may . . .