Liver diseases caused by methotrexate and alcohol
The risk of liver and biliary disease can occur under therapy with methotrexate. This is especially true when methotrexate is used for more than two years and the total dose is more than 1.5 grams of methotrexate. The risk of this is even greater if alcohol is consumed in addition to methotrexate treatment.
However, patients with pre-damaged liver, diabetes mellitus, overweight and increased alcohol consumption are also at increased risk of liver damage from methotrexate. Liver values should always be checked very regularly. Very often there is an increase in liver values in the blood (GPT, GOT, alkaline phospatase, bilirubin).
Occasionally, adverse effects such as fatty degeneration of the liver, chronic liver fibrosis (increase in connective tissue) and liver cirrhosis are observed. Acute inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) or liver damage (hepatotoxicity) occurs less frequently. In very rare cases, acute liver decay can occur.
