Hair Fall in Patients on Low Dose Methotrexate

Observational Study of Hair Fall in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Treated With Low Dose Methotrexate

Low dose methotrexate used in rheumatoid arthritis is considered very safe and has a side effect profile very different from that seen with high dose methotrexate used in oncology. Hair fall has been found to occur in high dose methotrexate but there is no data regarding the same when methotrexate is used in low dose.Thus this observational case control study is being undertaken to determine whether rheumatoid arthritis patients really need to be concerned about hair fall when on low dose methotrexate.

Inclusion Criteria:

For Cases

• Subjects should be above 18 years of age.
• Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and fulfilling the ACR EULAR 2010 criteria.
• Should be initiated on methotrexate
• Willing to follow up

For Controls

-Subjects should be above 18 years of age.

Exclusion Criteria:

For Cases

• Subjects with prior exposure to methotrexate in the last 6 months
• Subjects suffering from Thyroid (hypothyroidism)
• Subjects on leflunomide, or having received leflunomide in the last 6 months
• Subjects currently on cyclophosphamide or having received cyclophosphamide in the last 3 months.
• Subjects on psychiatric treatment or depression illness.
• Subjects who have overlap with other rheumatological disorders which can cause hair fall.
• Subjects in 1-5 months of post-partum or post-natal period.
• Subjects with female pattern baldness
• Subjects with androgenetic alopecia
• Subjects with alopecia aereta
• Subjects with other scalp conditions which can predispose to hair fall

For Controls

• Subjects having any family history of alopecia.
• Subjects suffering from thyroid.
• Subjects having any history of anemia.
• Subjects under 1-5 months of post-partum or post-natal period.
• Subjects on medications which can cause hair fall.
• Subjects on methotrexate for other reasons.
• Subjects with female pattern baldness
• Subjects with androgenetic alopecia
• Subjects with alopecia aereta
• Subjects with other scalp conditions which can predispose to hair fall