TY - JOUR
T1 - Use of azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine in the treatment of Crohn's disease
AU - O'Brien, John J.
AU - Bayless, Theodore M.
AU - Bayless, Jeffrey A.
N1 - Funding Information:
AZA, azathioprine; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; IOIBD, International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: NCCDS, National Cooperative Crohn’s Disease Study; NFIC, National Foundation for Ileitis and Colitis (Crohn’s Colitis Foundation of America). o 1991 by the American Gastroenterological Association 0016~5085/91/$3.00
PY - 1991/7
Y1 - 1991/7
N2 - The efficacy and safety of therapy with azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine was studied in 78 patients with Crohn's disease. Mean duration of therapy was 1.6 years; 52 patients were treated ≥ 6 months. All patients were also on other antiinflammatory medications. Evaluations included self-assessment and physician's assessment of well-being, functional capacity, general clinical response, clinical activities indices (National Foundation for Ileitis and Colitis/International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Harvey-Bradshaw), and achievement of specific therapeutic goals. General clinical condition improved in 70% of the patients. Median response time was 3 months. The average Harvey-Bradshaw score decreased 37% with therapy, and a decrease of ≥ 30% occurred in 66% of the subjects. An overall 72% achievement rate for specified therapeutic goals included controlling refractory disease, 73%; corticosteroid "sparing," 76%; and lessening fistulization, 63%. Nine patients got worse despite therapy. Adverse effects requiring discontinuation of therapy occurred in 10%, whereas dosages were briefly lowered for mild side effects in another 10%. This study demonstrates the effectiveness and safety of azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine in the majority of selected patients with chronic, unremitting, or steroid-requiring Crohn's disease.
AB - The efficacy and safety of therapy with azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine was studied in 78 patients with Crohn's disease. Mean duration of therapy was 1.6 years; 52 patients were treated ≥ 6 months. All patients were also on other antiinflammatory medications. Evaluations included self-assessment and physician's assessment of well-being, functional capacity, general clinical response, clinical activities indices (National Foundation for Ileitis and Colitis/International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Harvey-Bradshaw), and achievement of specific therapeutic goals. General clinical condition improved in 70% of the patients. Median response time was 3 months. The average Harvey-Bradshaw score decreased 37% with therapy, and a decrease of ≥ 30% occurred in 66% of the subjects. An overall 72% achievement rate for specified therapeutic goals included controlling refractory disease, 73%; corticosteroid "sparing," 76%; and lessening fistulization, 63%. Nine patients got worse despite therapy. Adverse effects requiring discontinuation of therapy occurred in 10%, whereas dosages were briefly lowered for mild side effects in another 10%. This study demonstrates the effectiveness and safety of azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine in the majority of selected patients with chronic, unremitting, or steroid-requiring Crohn's disease.
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U2 - 10.1016/0016-5085(91)90457-V
DO - 10.1016/0016-5085(91)90457-V
M3 - Article
C2 - 2044925
AN - SCOPUS:0025818064
SN - 0016-5085
VL - 101
SP - 39
EP - 46
JO - Gastroenterology
JF - Gastroenterology
IS - 1
ER -