To the Editor.—
Methotrexate has known teratogenic effects when received by a woman during the first trimester of pregnancy, and theoretically, the fetus is at risk when either parent has received the drug before conception. Studies of women whose pregnancies occurred subsequent to chemotherapy, including methotrexate for trophoblastic neoplasms, showed no increase in fetal loss or congenital malformation.1,2 There are only anecdotal reports of normal children born to women whose husbands were treated with methotrexate.3I briefly review the case of a male patient who fathered a normal child while receiving methotrexate therapy.
Report of a Case.—
A 34-year-old man was treated for Reiter's syndrome with 10/25 mg/wk of oral methotrexate from January 1973 through February 1975. During an 18-month remission, the disease exacerbated and 25 mg/wk of oral methotrexate therapy was resumed from August 1977 through July 1978. In February 1978, the patient said his wife was