Methotrexate for maintaining remission in paediatric Crohn's patients with prior failure or intolerance to thiopurines: a multicenter cohort study.

Background And Aims: Methotrexate [MTX] is an immunomodulating drug that can be used to maintain remission in patients with Crohn's disease [CD], but data on efficacy and tolerability in children and teenagers are scarce. We evaluated the long-term efficacy and tolerability of MTX monotherapy after thiopurine therapy in paediatric CD patients.

Methods: A multicenter cohort of paediatric MTX users who stopped thiopurines due to ineffectiveness or intolerance between 2002 and 2012 were included and followed for at least 12 months.