Retroperitoneal fibrosis: a case of a patient (63y/o) treated with low-dose methotrexate (MTX) and 6-methylprednisolone (6-MP)
Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF), is a rare fibroinflammatory disease. The pathogenesis of RPF is still unclear and numerous theories have
been reported such as environmental factors, immunologic process, genetic component, local inflammation and advanced atherosclerosis.
RPF is characterized by the presence of a particular retroperitoneal fibrotic tissue which is white, woody and involving retroperitoneal
structures such as the great vessels, ureters and psoas muscle. The main complication of RPF is the obstruction of local structures such as
the ureters due to the fibrosis and the treatment of this aspect represents the main challenge for this pathology.
RPF medical treatment consists of corticosteroids or/and immunosuppressive therapy. We report a case of a patient (63y/o) affected by
idiopathic RPF treated with low-dose methotrexate (MTX) and 6-methylprednisolone (6-MP) for two years, describing and confirming the
effectiveness and safety of a long-term low-dose MTX and 6-MP treatment.