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: Volker Meyer, Stefan Beissert
• Journal: Immunology and allergy clinics of North America (Immunol Allergy Clin North Am) Vol. 32 Issue 2 Pg. 295-307, vii-viii (May 2012) ISSN: 1557-8607 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22560142 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Mercaptopurine
• Azathioprine

Topics

• Animals
• Autoimmune Diseases (drug therapy, immunology)
• Azathioprine (chemistry, therapeutic use)
• Blister (drug therapy, immunology)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (chemistry, therapeutic use)
• Mercaptopurine (chemistry, therapeutic use)