Sprue-like disease possibly related to a single dose of methotrexate

Abstract

Sir, Methotrexate is an antimetabolite commonly used in dermatology for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis. Malabsorption secondary to treatment with methotrexate after its use in high doses and/or long-term has been described in the literature. However, only several cases of a sprue-like disease secondary to a low dose of methotrexate have been described. Herein, we report an exceptional case of a sprue-like disease after a single dose of methotrexate. A 43-year-old female was admitted to our department with psoriatic erythroderma (Figs. 1a and 1b). Treatment with MTX was administered at a dose of 12.5 mg/week as well as folic acid supplements. Three days later, the patient developed bilateral leg edema, associated with biological malabsorption syndrome (hypoalbuminemia at 19 g/L, hypocholesterolemia at 0.98 g/L, prothrombin time at 45%, blood glucose at the lower limit of 0.7 g/L, and normocytic normochromic anemia at 9.4 g/dL). A duodenal biopsy performed three weeks later revealed no villous atrophy (Fig. 2). The discontinuation of methotrexate led to the disappearance of the leg edema and the progressive correction of biological parameters.