[The frequency and the course of the adverse effects of azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine treatment in patients with inflammatory bowel disease].
OBJECTIVE
This study was to evaluate the frequency and the course of the adverse effects of AZA/6-MP in Korean patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).


METHODS
Medical records of the patients with IBD treated with AZA/6-MP at Severance hospital from June 1996 to September 2006 were retrospectively analyzed.


RESULTS
A total of 133 patients were studied. Male to female ratio was 1.3:1. The mean age was 31.7+/-10.9 year. Adverse effects included leukopenia occurred in 75 cases (56.4%), nausea/vomiting in 32 cases (24.1%), arthralgia in 6 cases (4.5%), hepatitis in 6 cases (4.5%), skin rash in 4 cases (3.0%), herpes zoster in 3 cases (2.3%), and headache in 1 case (0.8%). Most of leucopenia (58.7%) developed within 3 months after maximal tolerated dose of AZA/6-MP and nausea/vomiting frequently occurred within 3 months after start of AZA/6-MP treatment. Thirty-eight patients (28.6%) required the discontinuation of medication due to adverse effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Leukopenia was the most common adverse effect of AZA/6-MP treatment. Leukopenia and nausea/vomiting developed frequently in the early period of treatment of AZA/6-MP in patients with IBD. AZA/6-MP should be used cautiously to scrutinize bone marrow suppression.
Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Jae Hak
JH
Kim
Jae Hee
JH
Cheon
Won Ho
WH
Kim
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D015122:Mercaptopurine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015122:Mercaptopurine; D001379:Azathioprine