Methotrexate and Prednisolone compared to placebo and prednisolone in the treatment of severe Erythema Nodosum Leprosum: An international multicentre, double-blind randomised controlled clinical trial—MaPs in ENL

Background Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is a severe inflammatory complication of leprosy that often requires prolonged corticosteroid therapy which is associated with adverse effects. Methotrexate is an affordable immunomodulatory agent with limited evidence for its use in ENL treatment. We evaluated whether weekly oral methotrexate in addition to prednisolone reduces the need for additional prednisolone in adults with severe ENL. Methods and findings We performed an international, multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial conducted at five leprosy referral centres in Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, and Nepal. Adults aged 18–60 years with severe ENL were randomised to receive oral methotrexate (15mg, increased to 20mg in participants weighing ≥ 60 kg) for 48 weeks and prednisolone, or matching placebo and prednisolone. All participants received an identical 20-week prednisolone regimen, starting at 40mg daily, and were followed for 60 weeks. The primary outcome was time to first ENL flare requiring additional prednisolone, assessed over 24 and 48 weeks. Between January 2023 and June 2024, 231 individuals were screened and 137 were randomised (68 methotrexate and prednisolone; 69 placebo and prednisolone). By 24 weeks, 85/137 (62.0%) participants experienced an ENL flare requiring additional prednisolone; the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for methotrexate versus placebo was 0.98 (95% CI 0.62–1.54). By 48 weeks, 102/137 (74.5%) experienced an ENL flare; adjusted HR 0.95 (95% CI 0.62–1.43). Secondary outcomes were similar: methotrexate did not reduce ENL severity at first flare, flare frequency, or severity of subsequent flares. Health-related quality of life improved substantially in both groups with no evidence of a differential treatment effect. Methotrexate was generally well tolerated. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03775460). Conclusions Oral methotrexate added to prednisolone did not reduce the requirement for additional prednisolone or delay ENL flares compared to placebo and prednisolone, and our study does not support the use of methotrexate for severe ENL. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03775460 registered on 29th November 2018.