title: Azathioprine induced serious portal hypertension: a case series of three IBD patients and review of the literature.
abstract: We report 3 male IBD patients (2 Crohn's Disease, 1 Ulcerative Colitis) developing thrombocytopenia and splenomegaly on azathioprine treatment. All patients were diagnosed with significant portal hypertension due to histological proven nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) of the liver. In two of three patients, liver function tests remained completely normal. In addition we provide a short literature review of azathioprine induced NRH covering etiology, imaging, pathology, prognosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Gastroenterology at H.-Hart ziekenhuis Roeselare-Menen VZW, Roeselare, Belgium. diederikdooremont@yahoo.com
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dooremont
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Decaestecker
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Wulf
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ghillebert
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Vlierberghe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Dorpe
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D017082:Portal Pressure / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D001379:Azathioprine