Methotrexate is a cancer drug that has been used since the 1950s. It acts by inhibiting the metabolism of folic acid. In low doses, methotrexate is a safe and well-tolerated drug in the treatment of certain autoimmune diseases.
A study in Holland (by Rothova A, Norel AO, Los LI, Berendschot TT) looked at the effectiveness of low-dose methotrexate treatment for Birdshot Chorioretinopathy and how well it prevented visual loss in Birdshot
The retrospective case series involved 76 patients with HLA-A29 positive BSCR. 46 of these patients were followed for 5 years, 18 for longer than 10 years.
The treatment regimens were divided into the three groups:
1) No systemic immunomodulatory treatment
2) Treatment with systemic corticosteroids
3) Treatments with methotrexate
The group of patients who had methotrexate treatment showed better visual outcomes than those patients on just corticosteroid-based treatment (visual outcomes remained unchanged). The untreated patients visual outcomes were worse.
(Retina 3 March 2011)