title: Gender difference in red blood cell thiopurine methyltransferase activity.
abstract: High red blood cell (RBC) thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) activity is associated with a higher relapse rate in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia on 6-mercaptopurine therapy. RBC TPMT activity is subject to genetic polymorphism and inter-ethnic variation. Higher TPMT activity in male subjects has previously been reported in RBC and liver tissue, but only in non-healthy subjects. In this healthy, drug-free study group the gender difference in the RBC TPMT high activity subgroup was confirmed with 8.3% higher TPMT activity in male subjects (n = 105).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klemetsdal
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wist
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aarbakke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015122:Mercaptopurine / Q000097:blood*; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000097:blood*; D012621:Seasons; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D015122:Mercaptopurine; D008780:Methyltransferases; C022745:thiopurine methyltransferase