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. 2003 Dec 9;89(12):2197–2201. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6601422

Table 5. Side effects from methotrexate treatmenta.

  First course of treatment
Subsequent courses
Side effect Grade I/II Grade III/IV Grade I/II Grade III/IV
Anaemia     2 (0.8%)  
Neutropenia   1 (0.4%) 1 (0.4%) 2 (0.8%)
Thrombocytopenia   1 (0.4%) 1 (0.4%) 1 (0.4%)
         
Nausea 19 (7.6%)   37 (14.8)  
Vomiting 5 (2%)   12 (4.8%)  
Abdominal pain 21 (8.4%) 2 (0.8%) 34 (1.6%) 1 (0.4%)
Abnormal liver function 1 (0.4%) 1 (0.4%) 3 (1.2%)  
         
Mucositis/stomatitis 61 (24.4%) 1 (0.4%) 65 (26%) 2 (0.8%)
Sore/bleeding gums 2 (1.6%)   8 (3.2%)  
Epistaxis 6 (2.4%)   3 (1.2%)  
Blepharitis/conjunctivitis 61 (24.4%)   60 (24%)  
         
Pleuritic chest pain 22 (8.8%)   60 (24%) 3 (1.2%)
Shortness of breath 1 (0.4%)   5 (2%)  
Pleural effusion       1 (0.4%)
         
Skin rash 8 (3.2%) 1 (0.4%) 2 (0.8%) 1 (0.4%)
         
Vaginal bleeding 49 (19.6%) 4 (1.6%) 38 (15.2%) 2 (0.8%)
a

In all, 92 (36.8%) had no toxicity during their first course; 67 (26.8%) had no toxicity during subsequent courses.