Pancytopenia and colitis with Clostridium difficile in a rheumatoid arthritis patient taking methotrexate, antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Y Nanke; S Kotake; H Akama; M Tomii; N Kamatani

doi:10.1007/pl00011187

Pancytopenia and colitis with Clostridium difficile in a rheumatoid arthritis patient taking methotrexate, antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Clin Rheumatol. 2001;20(1):73-5. doi: 10.1007/pl00011187.

Authors

Y Nanke¹, S Kotake, H Akama, M Tomii, N Kamatani

Affiliation

¹ Institute of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Japan. ynn@ior.twmu.ac.jp

PMID: 11254248
DOI: 10.1007/pl00011187

Abstract

Methotrexate (MTX) is widely used despite its side-effects. We describe a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient taking low-dose MTX who developed severe pancytopenia and colitis with Clostridium difficile after the administration of antibiotics for acute pyelonephritis. Our case suggests that low-dose MTX may seriously interact with antibiotics and that these side-effects should always be considered when RA patients are treated with MTX and antibiotics.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aged
Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use*
Arthritis, Rheumatoid / complications
Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
Clostridioides difficile*
Drug Interactions
Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / complications
Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / microbiology*
Female
Humans
Methotrexate / adverse effects
Methotrexate / therapeutic use*
Pancytopenia / complications*

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Methotrexate