Benefit of simultaneous rhG-CSF and methylprednisolone 'pulse' therapy for methotrexate-induced bone marrow failure in rheumatoid arthritis.

A 74-year-old female with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis developed severe bone marrow failure after the treatment with very low-dose methotrexate (5 mg/week for 3 weeks). Hematological data showed severe pancytopenia with 0% neutrophils and bone marrow disclosed thoroughly hypocellular marrow. Shortly after the treatment with simultaneous rhG-CSF and methylprednisolone 'pulse' therapy, pancytopenia was ameliorated and bone marrow examination revealed hypercellular marrow with increasing maturation of hematopoietic components. Hematological parameters were maintained within the normal range with a low dose of prednisolone.