1. Biochemical efficacy of tioguanine in autoimmune hepatitis: a retrospective review of practice in the Netherlands
- Author
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Frank ter Borg, Floris F. van den Brand, Adriaan C.I.T.L. Tan, Bart J. Verwer, Gerd Bouma, Nanne K. H. de Boer, Akin Inderson, Elisabeth Bloemena, J.M. Vrolijk, Ynto S. de Boer, Christine M. Bakker, Sven Van Den Hazel, Martijn J. ter Borg, Chris J. J. Mulder, Joost P.H. Drenth, Maarten E. Tushuizen, Carin M.J. van Nieuwkerk, Gastroenterology and hepatology, AGEM - Digestive immunity, AGEM - Re-generation and cancer of the digestive system, AII - Inflammatory diseases, Amsterdam Reproduction & Development (AR&D), and Pathology
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Adolescent ,Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ,Azathioprine ,Autoimmune hepatitis ,Gastroenterology ,Tioguanine in Autoimmune Hepatitis ,Tioguanine ,03 medical and health sciences ,Young Adult ,0302 clinical medicine ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,Pharmacology (medical) ,Adverse effect ,Child ,Thioguanine ,Aged ,Netherlands ,Retrospective Studies ,Hepatitis ,Hepatology ,business.industry ,Mercaptopurine ,Remission Induction ,Retrospective cohort study ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Hepatitis, Autoimmune ,Renal disorders Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences [Radboudumc 11] ,Treatment Outcome ,Tolerability ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,030211 gastroenterology & hepatology ,Female ,Original Article ,business ,Biomarkers ,Immunosuppressive Agents ,medicine.drug ,Rare cancers Radboud Institute for Health Sciences [Radboudumc 9] - Abstract
Contains fulltext : 195713.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) BACKGROUND: Azathioprine (AZA) and mercaptopurine (MP) are the cornerstone of steroid-sparing strategies in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Up to 20% of patients do not tolerate or respond to these regimens. AIM: To evaluate retrospectively the tolerability and efficacy of tioguanine (thioguanine) (TG) therapy in selected patients with AIH and AIH variant syndromes. METHODS: Records of 52 patients who received TG therapy were retrieved from nine hospitals in the Netherlands. Indications for TG treatment were intolerable side effects on AZA or MP (n = 38), insufficient response (n = 11) or first-line treatment (n = 3). Treatment efficacy was defined as normalisation of serum aminotransferases and serum immunoglobulin G. RESULTS: No serious adverse events occurred in patients treated with TG during a median follow-up of 18 months (range 1-194). Treatment was well tolerated in 41 patients (79%), whereas four had tolerable (8%) and seven (13%) intolerable side effects. Thirty-eight patients were treated with TG after intolerable side effects on AZA or MP; 29 patients continued TG therapy of whom 24 (83%) achieved complete biochemical remission, four (14%) had incomplete and one (3%) had no response; nine discontinued treatment. Seven of 11 patients with insufficient response to AZA or MP were responsive to TG, three with complete and four with incomplete biochemical remission; four discontinued due to intolerance (n = 2) and non-response (n = 2). TG was effective in all AIH patients as first-line maintenance treatment. CONCLUSION: In our retrospective review of TG therapy in selected patients with AIH or AIH variants who previously failed on AZA or MP, TG appeared tolerable with biochemical efficacy.
- Published
- 2018
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