title: Azathioprine in the treatment of autoimmune blistering diseases.
abstract: Although there are no standard guidelines for the treatment of autoimmune blistering diseases, azathioprine has shown good efficacy in acquired autoimmune blistering diseases, and is well tolerated. Side effects of azathioprine normally occur in mild variants. Severe reactions are due to reduced thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) or inosine triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase (ITPA) activity. Therefore, screening for TPMT activity should be conducted in white patients and Africans, whereas Japanese should be screened for ITPA activity before therapy with azathioprine is started. Azathioprine is clinically meaningful for the treatment of pemphigus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 58, D-48149 Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beissert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001768:Blister / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015122:Mercaptopurine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015122:Mercaptopurine; D001379:Azathioprine