title: Azathioprine in rheumatoid arthritis: a long-term follow-up study.
abstract: In 1973 we reported the beneficial effects of azathioprine in a double blind, cross-over study in 17 patients with classic rheumatoid arthritis. During subsequent follow-up over a mean period of 40 months, 4 patients had discontinued therapy because of poor therapeutic response and 1 because of nausea. Eleven of the 12 patients still taking azathioprine had maintained their initial beneficial response or showed further improvement. Adverse side effects during the follow-up period were minor. They included nausea in 1 patient and leukopenia with thrombocytopenia in another. An increased incidence of chromosomal abnormalities was detected in those patients still receiving azathioprine.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D009864:Ontario; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D001379:Azathioprine