Re: methotrexate - please advise

[Guest guest]

Hi Cheryl;

I'd recommend that you do not take any more methotrexate until

thoroughly discussing this with your doctor(s). There is evidence that

methotrexate can cause liver toxicity, and it is possible that you

experienced this after the first " shot " . One relevant article is this

one, indicating that methotrexate liver injury may in part be prevented

by ursodeoxycholic acid:

Dig Dis Sci. 2007 Oct 13; [Epub ahead of print]

Role of Ursodeoxycholic Acid in Prevention of Methotrexate-induced

Liver Toxicity.

Uraz S, Tahan V, Aygun C, Eren F, Unluguzel G, Yuksel M, Senturk O,

Avsar E, Haklar G, Celikel C, Hulagu S, Tozun N

Department of Gastroenterology, Kocaeli University Medical Faculty,

Kocaeli, Turkey.

Aim Methotrexate (MTX)-induced hepatotoxicity restricts the clinical

use of this immunosuppressive drug. In this study, our aim was to

research the role of oxidative stress in the hepatic toxicity of MTX

and the protective effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in this

setting. Methods Wistar type rats (n = 32) were divided into four

groups; group-1 as the MTX + UDCA, group-2 as the MTX, group-3 as the

UDCA, group-4 as the saline-receiving groups. The MTX + UDCA and MTX

groups of rats received 50 mg/kg of UDCA administered orally; whilst

physiological saline was administered orally to the MTX and saline

groups and continued for the next 6 days. On the second day of the

study, the MTX + UDCA and MTX groups had a single intraperitoneal dose

of MTX of 20 mg/kg. The UDCA and saline groups also received similar

volumes of physiological saline intraperitoneally. On the sixth day,

serum samples were collected and analyzed for ALT, alkaline phosphatase

(ALP) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and homogenated liver

tissues were examined for reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM); luminol,

lucigenin, lipid peroxygenation product malondialdehyde (MDA) and

glutathione (GSH) levels. Results In the MTX group, serum ALT, ALP, GGT

and tissue ROM levels were higher and GSH level was lower. On the

histopathological examination, hepatocellular necrosis was clearly more

evident in the MTX group than the MTX + UDCA group. Conclusions UDCA

treatment protects against MTX-induced liver toxicity.

Histopathologically hepatocyte necrosis can be prevented by UDCA

treatment, indicating clearly the hepatoprotective effect of this agent

on MTX-induced liver injury. PMID: 17934844.

Are you taking ursodeoxycholic acid? Why was the methotrexate

prescribed?

Best regards,

Dave

(father of (23); PSC 07/03; UC 08/03)

[Guest guest]

Hi Cheryl,

I was given low dose methotrexate for a couple of months in 1992. I was living at the time in Edmonton, Alberta and a specialist at the University Hospital was, I believe, running a test program. I was given a low dose (I think it was 2 x 5mg pills) just on weekends. The initial results were good (not outstanding but good, LFT numbers down slightly), but the pills caused me to feel lousy all weekend and after a couple of months I had a toxic reaction (LFT numbers shot way up). I stopped taking the methotrexate and have not taken it since. In contrast I started on URSO in 1999, have had no side effects, and my LFT numbers have been lower this decade than they were the decade before.

Ian (51) PSC 89

On 10/27/07, cherylzahajko@... <cherylzahajko@...

> wrote:

Is anybody on methotrexate? I took one shot and in five days my Alk Phosphate doubled and my white blood cell count plummeted. Does anybody have experience with this? I didn't go in to get my shot on Friday because I was worried. I couldn't get ahold of my doctor so I'm not sure what will happen. Please advise if you can.

Thanks,Cheryl ---------- Forwarded message ----------From: Marie Nilsson <

marie_nilsson17@...>To: < >Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2007 02:20:41 +0000Subject: RE: PSC Partners Fundraiser!!!

I signed up and sent out e-mails.

Marie

To: From:

leedeubert@...Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2007 10:20:04 -0400Subject: Re: PSC Partners Fundraiser!!!

,

Thanks so much for setting up this magazine fundraiser . I always bought tons of magazines when the kids sold them for school each year.

So now here is another good cause. I'm in ! I just bought two magazines for a $ 24.80 donation to Partners.

For those of you out there willing to help you can also help for free by signing up to use a new search engine.

Signing in will help PSC Partners !

Together in the fight , whatever it takes,

Lee

See below for both the magazine fundraiser and the free search and give site information.

Dear All,

Here is some exciting news on a way you can all help raise money for PSC Partners Seeking a Cure. There is a search engine called " Search and Give " that gives money to the charity of your choice. Big thanks to Dave for finding and signing us up.

Here is the web site:

http://club.live.com/searchandgive.aspx

It works like this, go to the site and click on " sign in " .

- Click on sign up.

- Fill in the information and choose a password.

- Choose PSC Partners Seeking a Cure for your charity (I gave 100% to Partners but you can choose otherwise).

- Bookmark for frequent use.

Each time you use the site for an internet search you will accumulate 1 ticket, where each ticket is worth one cent.

With just Dave and I we have raised over $1.30 in just two days. Imagine if we ALL start using it!.

The amount donated is paid annually so we could really add up the points.

Here's what I like, it is not only a search engine but you get additional tickets for playing games too! I particularly like " Dingbats " a " Wheel Of Fortune " type game.

I also like that they have a leader-board that shows how your charity is doing.

has been using it for internet searches on PSC and IBD, and is quite pleased with it. also is giving 100% to Partners

I hope you will join us and encourage your friends and family to join us too!!

Together in the fight, whatever it takes!

Thanks to all who will participate.

I posted about this a week or so ago but I had to stop for a bit to

make sure we could do this one. I got the okay from Ricky Safer and

we can do it!It is a magazine sales fundraiser. People can go to the website and buy subscriptions at a discounted rate and 40% goes to our

organization.

Please visit the site! There is a link at the bottom of to website that you can click on to email your friends and family. The checks for the funds raised will be made out to PSC Partners Seeking a Cure

and sent to the PSC address in Colorado. I only set it up.

The address is http://www.magfundr

aising.com/PSCPartners

It is my understanding that you can also purchase subscription renewals too!!!

PSC 8/07

PBC 10/06

Climb to the top of the charts! Play Star Shuffle: the word scramble challenge with star power.

Play Now! -- Ian Cribb P.Eng.