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 pediatric CD patients. Methods: A multicenter cohort of pediatric MTX users who stopped thiopurines due to ineffectiveness or intolerance between 2002 and 2012 were included and followed for at least 12 months. Relapse-free use was defined as steroid and biologics-free clinical remission after the