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Fortschritte Der Medizin Dec 1979The indication for azathioprine (Imurek) has to be strictly adjusted, but amongst the immunosuppresive drugs it is without doubt the best tolerated substance...
The indication for azathioprine (Imurek) has to be strictly adjusted, but amongst the immunosuppresive drugs it is without doubt the best tolerated substance and--provided that regular controls are carried out--is therefore also suitable for long-term treatment in practice.
Topics: Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Azathioprine; Chromosome Aberrations; Humans; Immunosuppression Therapy; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Lymphocytes; Myositis; Polyarteritis Nodosa; Rheumatic Diseases
PubMed: 43824
DOI: No ID Found -
Postgraduate Medical Journal Oct 1980A 33-year-old housewife with a 14-year history of relapsing polyneuropathy of unknown cause who has apparently responded to azathioprine therapy is described. The place...
A 33-year-old housewife with a 14-year history of relapsing polyneuropathy of unknown cause who has apparently responded to azathioprine therapy is described. The place of this form of treatment in idiopathic polyneuropathy is discussed.
Topics: Adult; Azathioprine; Chronic Disease; Female; Humans; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
PubMed: 6261230
DOI: 10.1136/pgmj.56.660.734 -
Henry Ford Hospital Medical Journal 1986
Topics: Adult; Anemia, Macrocytic; Azathioprine; Erythropoiesis; Female; Humans
PubMed: 3804776
DOI: No ID Found -
International Journal of Dermatology Apr 1998Parthenium dermatitis is a chronic disorder whose management is extremely difficult. Allergen avoidance is almost impossible, topical corticosteroid therapy provides... (Clinical Trial)
Clinical Trial
BACKGROUND
Parthenium dermatitis is a chronic disorder whose management is extremely difficult. Allergen avoidance is almost impossible, topical corticosteroid therapy provides only partial relief, and prolonged systemic corticosteroid therapy has unacceptable side-effects.
METHODS
Twenty patients with chronic Parthenium dermatitis, with relative contraindications to systemic corticosteroids or their side-effects, were treated with oral azathioprine (100-150 mg daily). The severity of dermatitis was assessed at 0, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months using a modified PASI scoring system.
RESULTS
The mean age of the patients was 54 years (range, 40-72 years) and the mean duration of dermatitis was 7.6 years (range, 3 months to 36 years). The mean initial score was 18.9 (range, 3.3-42), which decreased to 8.8 (range, 1.6-18.2) at 3 months, 4.8 (range, 0.6-14.6) at 6 months, and 0.7 (range, 0.2-1.4) at 12 months. Of the 15 patients evaluated at 6 months, all but one showed a response. Ten (66.6%) patients showed near-total clearance, i.e. reduction in score by more than 90%, and three patients (20%) showed more than 50% reduction in score. No significant side-effects were noted.
CONCLUSIONS
Azathioprine is an effective and safe alternative to corticosteroid therapy in the treatment of chronic Parthenium dermatitis. It is especially useful in patients with side-effects or contraindications to corticosteroid therapy.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Asteraceae; Azathioprine; Dermatitis, Contact; Female; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Male; Middle Aged
PubMed: 9585905
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-4362.1998.00307.x -
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 -
Lancet (London, England) Nov 1970
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Azathioprine; Crohn Disease; Female; Humans; Intestinal Fistula; Klebsiella Infections; Leukopenia; Male; Middle Aged; Nausea; Nutrition Disorders; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Time Factors
PubMed: 4098349
DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(70)90284-9 -
Gastroenterology Aug 1990Although azathioprine has been reported to be safe during pregnancy in renal transplant recipients and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, opinions vary whether...
Although azathioprine has been reported to be safe during pregnancy in renal transplant recipients and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, opinions vary whether it should be continued in pregnancy in inflammatory bowel disease. A retrospective analysis of the outcome of 16 pregnancies in 14 women receiving azathioprine for inflammatory bowel disease was performed. There was one infective complication of pregnancy (hepatitis B virus infection), but there were no congenital abnormalities or subsequent health problems in the children. This preliminary study suggests that azathioprine is safe in pregnancy in inflammatory bowel disease patients and that termination of pregnancy is not mandatory for those who conceive while taking the drug.
Topics: Adult; Azathioprine; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Outcome; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 2365192
DOI: 10.1016/0016-5085(90)91027-4 -
Gastroenterology Oct 2013Immunomodulator therapy is effective for patients with Crohn's disease (CD) but has not been shown to affect disease progression, presumably because it is given too late... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Immunomodulator therapy is effective for patients with Crohn's disease (CD) but has not been shown to affect disease progression, presumably because it is given too late after diagnosis. We compared the efficacy of early treatment (within 6 months after diagnosis) with azathioprine versus conventional management of patients at high risk for disabling disease.
METHODS
We performed an open-label trial of adults with a diagnosis of CD for less than 6 months who were at risk for disabling disease. From July 2005 to November 2010, patients at 24 French centers were randomly assigned to treatment with azathioprine (2.5 mg ∙ kg(-1) ∙ day(-1), n = 65) or conventional management (azathioprine only in cases of corticosteroid dependency, chronic active disease with frequent flares, poor response to corticosteroids, or development of severe perianal disease) (n = 67). The primary end point was the proportion of trimesters spent in corticosteroid-free and anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-free remission during the first 3 years after inclusion.
RESULTS
During the 3-year follow-up period, 16 patients in the azathioprine group were switched to mercaptopurine or methotrexate therapy because of intolerance or poor efficacy. Forty-one patients in the conventional management group required immunosuppressant therapy (61%; median time to first prescription, 11 months). In the azathioprine group, a median 67% of trimesters were spent in remission (interquartile range, 11%-85%) compared with 56% in the conventional management group (interquartile range, 29%-73%) (P = .69). Among secondary outcomes, a higher cumulative proportion of patients in the azathioprine group were free of perianal surgery than in the conventional management group (96% ± 3% and 82% ± 6% at month 36, respectively; P = .036). The cumulative proportion of patients free of intestinal surgery and anti-TNF therapy did not differ between groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on results from a clinical trial, administration of azathioprine within 6 months of diagnosis of CD was no more effective than conventional management in increasing time of clinical remission. Clinicaltrials.gov, Number NCT00546546.
Topics: Adult; Azathioprine; Crohn Disease; Female; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Male; Young Adult
PubMed: 23644079
DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2013.04.048 -
Mutation Research Jan 1981Chromosomal analyses in lymphocytes of 28 patients with multiple sclerosis were carried out before, during and after Azathioprine (Aza) therapy. Only a higher incidence...
Chromosomal analyses in lymphocytes of 28 patients with multiple sclerosis were carried out before, during and after Azathioprine (Aza) therapy. Only a higher incidence of gaps was found in treated patients than in a group of healthy persons but not in comparison with untreated patients. Similarly, no significant clastogenic effect was observed in vitro after short-term and long-term treatment of unstimulated and stimulated lymphocytes with concentrations of 1--100 microgram Aza per ml. Treatment of cultures with 0.0001--4.0 microgram/ml did not yield increased SCE frequencies. The absence of any significant clastogenic effect of therapeutic doses of Aza on human somatic cells is deduced from an evaluation of previously published data and from the present results.
Topics: Adult; Azathioprine; Cells, Cultured; Chromosome Aberrations; Chromosomes, Human; Crossing Over, Genetic; Female; Humans; Lymphocytes; Male; Multiple Sclerosis; Mutagens; Sister Chromatid Exchange
PubMed: 6163078
DOI: 10.1016/0165-1218(81)90090-2 -
Lancet (London, England) Dec 1971The effect of azathioprine in patients with active Crohn's disease has been evaluated in a double-blind cross-over trial. Fifteen patients were treated with both... (Clinical Trial)
Clinical Trial Comparative Study Randomized Controlled Trial
The effect of azathioprine in patients with active Crohn's disease has been evaluated in a double-blind cross-over trial. Fifteen patients were treated with both azathioprine and placebo: only two improved while on azathioprine, six got worse, and in seven there was no change. The drug seemed to be the cause of deterioration in two of the patients. Although the drug may be of some value in a few patients, it should be used with caution and only when other measures have failed.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Arthritis; Azathioprine; Clinical Trials as Topic; Crohn Disease; Double-Blind Method; Drug Hypersensitivity; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Time Factors
PubMed: 4143532
DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(71)90598-8