Methotrexate toxicity

What it is

A rare intoxication characterized by acute renal tubular toxicity due to crystallization of methotrexate in the renal tubular lumen (which in turn leads to impaired methotrexate clearance and further deterioration of renal function and exacerbation of non-renal adverse events), myelosuppression with pancytopenia, gastrointestinal mucositis, maculopapular skin rash, chemical conjunctivitis, hepatotoxicity (reversible chemical hepatitis and hyperbilirubinemia), pulmonary toxicity, and, in severe cases, multiorgan failure. Central nervous system involvement, including headaches, seizures, and stroke-like symptoms, may also be observed.

Key facts

Prevalence

1-9 / 100 000 (Europe)

Age of onset

All ages

Inheritance

Not applicable

Classified as

Disease

Prevalence figures describe populations, not individuals, and are often estimates from a single study. Where the figure is an incidence or a birth prevalence, it says so.

Signs and symptoms

These ranges are how often a sign appears across everyone diagnosed, not a prediction for one person — most people have some of these and not others. Orphanet also records findings that are specifically absent in this disease; those are in the data but not listed here.

ICD-10 codes

Cross-references