Natural history of azathioprine-associated lymphopenia in inflammatory bowel disease patients: a prospective observational study.
Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol
; 23(2): 153-8, 2011 Feb.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21164349
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Azathioprine (AZA) is commonly used in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Lymphopenia is a recognized effect of this treatment, but lymphopenia-related complications in IBD patients have not been widely reported. The incidence and progression of AZA-induced lymphopenia in IBD patients is not well described. There is no consensus on its optimal management in this group. AIMS ANDMETHODS:
We assessed the incidence and progression of lymphopenia and its related complications in a cohort of IBD patients over a 14-month period in two large tertiary gastroenterology units. Analysis of prospectively collected data was performed.RESULTS:
Fifty-two patients were studied prospectively with a median age of 34 years. Eighteen patients (34.6%) developed lymphopenia (<1.0×10(9)/l) during the course of treatment and 10 of them had severe lymphopenia (<0.6×10(9)/l). Lymphopenia lasted on average 85.4 days and spontaneously resolved in 13 patients. No lymphopenia related-complications were documented. Patients treated with steroids had a significantly higher rate of lymphopenia (83.3 vs. 44.1%, P=0.0083).CONCLUSION:
Lymphopenia is common among IBD patients treated with AZA. However, it did not seem to be associated with a higher risk of opportunistic infections and spontaneously resolved in the majority of cases.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Azathioprine
/
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
/
Immunosuppressive Agents
/
Lymphopenia
Type of study:
Incidence_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol
Journal subject:
GASTROENTEROLOGIA
Year:
2011
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Reino Unido
Publication country:
ENGLAND
/
ESCOCIA
/
GB
/
GREAT BRITAIN
/
INGLATERRA
/
REINO UNIDO
/
SCOTLAND
/
UK
/
UNITED KINGDOM