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Systemic Treatment of Hand Eczema: Methotrexate

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Textbook of Hand Eczema

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Abstract

Methotrexate has antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and immunosuppressive effects. It is used for a variety of dermatoses, most notably psoriasis. Various studies have demonstrated efficacy in difficult-to-control eczema, though published data for hand eczema are limited. It should be considered an option for hand eczema that is recalcitrant to nonsystemic treatments. Adverse effects, including hepatotoxicity, pulmonary toxicity, hematologic effects, gastrointestinal effects, renal effects, and malignancy, must be discussed with patients. Careful monitoring and frequent visits with patients initially are imperative. Magnetic resonance elastography may represent a less invasive approach in monitoring hepatic fibrosis.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 1st St S.W, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Cooper C. Wriston M.D.

  2. Departments of Dermatology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 1st St S.W, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Mark R. Pittelkow M.D.

Authors
  1. Cooper C. Wriston M.D.
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  2. Mark R. Pittelkow M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cooper C. Wriston M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

    Ali Alikhan

  2. Department of Dermatology, Catholic University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium

    Jean-Marie Lachapelle

  3. Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

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Wriston, C.C., Pittelkow, M.R. (2014). Systemic Treatment of Hand Eczema: Methotrexate. In: Alikhan, A., Lachapelle, JM., Maibach, H. (eds) Textbook of Hand Eczema. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-39546-8_36

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-39546-8_36

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-39545-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-39546-8

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