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Digestive Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) 2016Historically, in the 1950s, the introduction of simple, old-fashioned steroids resulted in a significant drop in mortality and hence offered for the first time a real... (Review)
Review
Historically, in the 1950s, the introduction of simple, old-fashioned steroids resulted in a significant drop in mortality and hence offered for the first time a real therapeutic option for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. However, as we are all aware of, steroids are no option for maintenance of remission. This review will provide an overview of the available data on the current role of azathioprine in the therapy of Crohn's disease. Based on several controlled trials, the place of azathioprine for maintenance of remission is indisputable. Data from a pediatric cohort suggested that early introduction of azathioprine is beneficial for the disease course. Two recent studies aimed at reproducing these data in adult populations and failed. Hence indicating that azathioprine should only be introduced for maintenance of remission in a step-up-wise approach. An additional role for azathioprine in combo therapy with TNF antibodies has been indicated by several trials revealing a substantial benefit on response. This is partly attributed to the gain in the therapeutic effect by azathioprine itself and possibly through reduction of anti-drug antibody development. In summary, the current role of azathioprine in the therapy of Crohn's disease is manifold and still has an impact in times of targeted therapy.
Topics: Adult; Azathioprine; Crohn Disease; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Remission Induction; Steroids
PubMed: 27548499
DOI: 10.1159/000447376 -
Praxis Apr 2022Subacute Flaccid Tetraparesis The patient presented herself with a subacute flaccid tetraparesis. After clinical examination, laboratory analysis, EMG, MRI and muscle...
Subacute Flaccid Tetraparesis The patient presented herself with a subacute flaccid tetraparesis. After clinical examination, laboratory analysis, EMG, MRI and muscle biopsy we diagnosed a statin-associated immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy. Neurorehabilitation and prednisolone therapy as well as immunomodulatory therapy with azathioprine did not result in remission. After two cycles of Privigen®, the patient was almost symptom-free and no longer restricted in everyday life; the CK fell to 400U/l.
Topics: Autoantibodies; Autoimmune Diseases; Azathioprine; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Muscular Diseases
PubMed: 35473326
DOI: 10.1024/1661-8157/a003828 -
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis &... Nov 2021
Topics: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Azathioprine; Humans
PubMed: 32814467
DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2020.1809821 -
Cell Reports. Medicine Aug 2023Azathioprine (AZA) therapy failure, though not the primary cause, contributes to disease relapse and progression in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the role...
Azathioprine (AZA) therapy failure, though not the primary cause, contributes to disease relapse and progression in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the role of gut microbiota in AZA therapy failure remains poorly understood. We found a high prevalence of Blautia wexlerae in patients with IBD with AZA therapy failure, associated with shorter disease flare survival time. Colonization of B. wexlerae increased inflammatory macrophages and compromised AZA's therapeutic efficacy in mice with intestinal colitis. B. wexlerae colonization reduced 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) bioavailability by enhancing selenium-dependent xanthine dehydrogenase (sd-XDH) activity. The enzyme sd-XDH converts 6-MP into its inactive metabolite, 6-thioxanthine (6-TX), thereby impairing its ability to inhibit inflammation in mice. Supplementation with Bacillus (B.) subtilis enriched in hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) effectively mitigated B. wexlerae-induced AZA treatment failure in mice with intestinal colitis. These findings emphasize the need for tailored management strategies based on B. wexlerae levels in patients with IBD.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Mercaptopurine; Azathioprine; Immunosuppressive Agents; Biological Availability; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Colitis; Bacteria
PubMed: 37586320
DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101153 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Dec 2023Azathioprine is commonly used as an immunosuppressive antimetabolite in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, autoimmune disorders (such as Crohn's disease and...
Azathioprine is commonly used as an immunosuppressive antimetabolite in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, autoimmune disorders (such as Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis), and in patients receiving organ transplants. Thiopurine-S-methyltransferase (TPMT) is a cytoplasmic trans-methylase catalyzing the S-methylation of thiopurines. The active metabolites obtained from thiopurines are hydrolyzed into inactive forms by the Nudix hydrolase 15 (NUDT15). The TPMT*2 (defined by rs1800462), *3A (defined by rs1800460 and rs1142345), *3B (defined by rs1800460), *3C (defined by rs1142345), *6 (defined by rs75543815), and NUDT15 rs116855232 genetic variant have been associated, with the highest level of evidence, with the response to azathioprine, and, the approved drug label for azathioprine and main pharmacogenetic dosing guidelines recommend starting with reduced initial doses in TPMT intermediate metabolizer (IM) patients and considering an alternative treatment in TPMT poor metabolizer (PM) patients. This study aims to assess the clinical impact of azathioprine dose tailoring based on TPMT genotyping studying the azathioprine toxicity and efficacy, treatment starts, and dose adjustments during follow-up, comparing TPMT IM/PM and normal metabolizer (NM) patients. It also studied the association of NUDT15 rs116855232 with response to azathioprine in patients receiving a tailored treatment based on TPMT and characterized the TMPT and NUDT15 studied variants in our population. Results show that azathioprine dose reduction in TPMT IM patients (TPMT*1/*2, *1/*3A, or *1/*3C genotypes) is related to lower toxicity events compared to TPMT NM (TPMT *1/*1 genotype), and lower azathioprine dose adjustments during follow-up without showing differences in the efficacy. The results support the hypothesis of existing other genetic variants affecting azathioprine toxicity.
Topics: Humans; Azathioprine; Pharmacogenetics; Immunosuppressive Agents; Genotype; Crohn Disease; Methyltransferases; Pyrophosphatases
PubMed: 37857254
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115706 -
Journal of Crohn's & Colitis Aug 2022Exactly 70 years ago [1951] mercaptopurine was discovered by Gertrude Elion as a novel treatment option for acute leukaemia. A total of three thiopurines (also...
Exactly 70 years ago [1951] mercaptopurine was discovered by Gertrude Elion as a novel treatment option for acute leukaemia. A total of three thiopurines (also thioguanine [1950] and azathioprine [1957]) were developed over time. These immunosuppressive drugs were also successfully introduced a few decades later to prevent rejection of transplanted organs and to treat several autoimmune diseases. For her discovery of thiopurines and other antimetabolite drugs, in 1988 Elion was rewarded, together with George Hitchings and James Black, with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Important steps have been made in recent years to unravel its metabolism, mode of action and pharmacogenetics. Today thiopurine [based] therapy remains an essential immunosuppressive approach in treating patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Topics: Antimetabolites; Azathioprine; Female; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Mercaptopurine; Thioguanine
PubMed: 35024806
DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjac004 -
Skinmed 2022Anagen effluvium and myelosuppression are rare adverse effects of azathioprine. Hair loss due to azathioprine is more frequent in transplant than in nontransplant...
Anagen effluvium and myelosuppression are rare adverse effects of azathioprine. Hair loss due to azathioprine is more frequent in transplant than in nontransplant patients. We report three patients with azathioprine-induced anagen effluvium and myelosuppression, who were prescribed azathioprine for dermatologic conditions. (. 2022;20:192-196).
Topics: Alopecia Areata; Azathioprine; Humans
PubMed: 35779024
DOI: No ID Found -
BMJ Open Respiratory Research Feb 2024Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and azathioprine (AZA) are immunomodulatory treatments in interstitial lung disease (ILD). This systematic review aimed to evaluate the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and azathioprine (AZA) are immunomodulatory treatments in interstitial lung disease (ILD). This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of MMF or AZA on pulmonary function in ILD.
DESIGN
Population included any ILD diagnosis, intervention included MMF or AZA treatment, outcome was delta change from baseline in per cent predicted forced vital capacity (%FVC) and gas transfer (diffusion lung capacity of carbon monoxide, %DLco). The primary endpoint compared outcomes relative to placebo comparator, the secondary endpoint assessed outcomes in treated groups only.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective observational studies were included. No language restrictions were applied. Retrospective studies and studies with high-dose concomitant steroids were excluded.
DATA SYNTHESIS
The systematic search was performed on 9 May. Meta-analyses according to drug and outcome were specified with random effects, I evaluated heterogeneity and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation evaluated certainty of evidence. Primary endpoint analysis was restricted to RCT design, secondary endpoint included subgroup analysis according to prospective observational or RCT design.
RESULTS
A total of 2831 publications were screened, 12 were suitable for quantitative synthesis. Three MMF RCTs were included with no significant effect on the primary endpoints (%FVC 2.94, 95% CI -4.00 to 9.88, I=79.3%; %DLco -2.03, 95% CI -4.38 to 0.32, I=0.0%). An overall 2.03% change from baseline in %FVC (95% CI 0.65 to 3.42, I=0.0%) was observed in MMF, and RCT subgroup summary estimated a 4.42% change from baseline in %DL (95% CI 2.05 to 6.79, I=0.0%). AZA studies were limited. All estimates were considered very low certainty evidence.
CONCLUSIONS
There were limited RCTs of MMF or AZA and their benefit in ILD was of very low certainty. MMF may support preservation of pulmonary function, yet confidence in the effect was weak. To support high certainty evidence, RCTs should be designed to directly assess MMF efficacy in ILD.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42023423223.
Topics: Humans; Azathioprine; Immunosuppressive Agents; Lung Diseases, Interstitial; Lung; Mycophenolic Acid; Enzyme Inhibitors; Observational Studies as Topic
PubMed: 38413120
DOI: 10.1136/bmjresp-2023-002163 -
Journal of the European Academy of... Jul 2017
Topics: Aged; Azathioprine; Drug Eruptions; Female; Humans; Rosacea
PubMed: 27997728
DOI: 10.1111/jdv.14094 -
Indian Journal of Pharmacology 2018The management of myasthenia gravis (MG) during pregnancy requires special skills as both diseases as well as its treatment can have deleterious effects on mother and... (Review)
Review
The management of myasthenia gravis (MG) during pregnancy requires special skills as both diseases as well as its treatment can have deleterious effects on mother and fetus. MG often affects women in second and third decades of life during the childbearing age. Exacerbations of MG are likely to occur during the first trimester and postpartum period. The treatment of MG during pregnancy needs to be individualized depending on the severity of MG as well as the efficacy of various treatment modalities and their possible harmful effects on pregnancy. In addition, special attention has to be given to avoid drugs and other factors (such as urinary tract infections) which may worsen MG. The key to successful outcome during pregnancy in myasthenic women lies in multidisciplinary care involving obstetricians, neurologists, anesthetist as well as neonatologist. In this review, we discuss various therapeutic options available for the management of MG during pregnancy and provide recommendations based on the current best evidence.
Topics: Azathioprine; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Disease Management; Female; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Myasthenia Gravis; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Outcome; Prenatal Care; Pyridostigmine Bromide; Severity of Illness Index
PubMed: 30783322
DOI: 10.4103/ijp.IJP_452_17