title: Thiopurine therapy: when to start and when to stop.
abstract: The thiopurines azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine are effective both for active disease and for maintaining remission in both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. This review describes criteria for starting thiopurines (two or more courses of steroids in a calendar year, relapse as prednisolone is reduced below 15 mg/day, within 6 weeks of stopping steroids) and the benefits of continuing treatment for up to 5 years. Challenging issues, such as thiopurine intolerance, relative merits of azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, monitoring therapy and thiopurines in pregnancy are addressed.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics and Linacre College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Dermot P B
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: McGovern
authors.forename: Simon P L
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Travis
mesh_terms: D001379:Azathioprine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015122:Mercaptopurine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015122:Mercaptopurine; D001379:Azathioprine