Objective: To examine the efficacy and steroid sparing potential of methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) without giant cell arteritis.
Methods: 43 patients with PMR were treated with MTX 7.5 mg/wk for 3 months. This dose was raised to 10 and finally 12.5 mg/wk MTX if the desired response was not obtained.
Results: No patient benefitted clinically or statistically from treatment with MTX.
Conclusion: MTX is of no benefit in the treatment of PMR.