Methotrexate toxicity treated with continuous venovenous hemofiltration, leucovorin and glucarpidase

Abstract

High-dose methotrexate (MTX) can produce acute kidney injury, impairing MTX elimination. Continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) may enhance elimination in this setting, although its use is largely unstudied. A 79-year-old man received IV MTX for central nervous system lymphoma, and over a 34-h period his serum creatinine increased from 1.09 to 2.24 mg/dL. His serum MTX concentration (sMTX) at the end of this time period was 59.05 μmol/L. After urinary alkalinization and leucovorin and glucarpidase (CPDG2) treatment, sMTX decreased. Fluid overload ensued and CVVH was initiated. The initial MTX extraction ratio and clearance were 0.22 and 47.0 mL/min, respectively. No MTX extraction occurred at an sMTX of 0.15 μmol/L. Continuous venovenous hemodialysis was initiated, and sMTX further declined. CVVH may help eliminate MTX and provide renal replacement at moderate sMTX.