To examine the efficacy and steroid sparing potential of methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) without giant cell arteritis.
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.
No patient benefitted clinically or statistically from treatment with MTX.
MTX is of no benefit in the treatment of PMR.