Monitoring of azathioprine treatment by determination of 6-thioguanine nucleotide concentrations in erythrocytes.

ABSTRACT

Thioguanine nucleotides (6-TGN) are intracellular metabolites that may contribute to the antiproliferative effects of AZA. The objectives of our study were to describe the variability of 6-TGN concentrations during AZA therapy and to investigate possible correlations between 6-TGN levels and subsequent myelosuppression. We measured 6-TGN concentrations in RBC of 65 renal transplant recipients from day 0 until 11-64 days after transplantation. High 6-TGN concentrations were observed in relation to elevated S-creatinine. In 15 patients, 6-TGN concentrations above 200 pmol/8 x 10(8) RBCs were measured (high 6-TGN group mean maximal 6-TGN = 552 pmol/8 x 10(8) RBCs, SE = 91). In the remaining 50 patients, mean maximal 6-TGN was 82 pmol/8 x 10(8) RBCs, SE = 6.1 (low t-TGN group). In the former group, mean S-creatinine measured on the day of maximal 6-TGN was 466 mumol/L (SE = 62.3), while in the latter it was 190 (SE = 14.7). In the high 6-TGN group, we observed a lower mean nadir neutrophil count than in the low 6-TGN group (3.4 vs. 5.1 x 10(9) neutrophils/L). The nadir neutrophil count occurred, on the average, 12.7 days after maximal 6-TGN in the high 6-TGN group, with no such delay in the low 6-TGN group. This study demonstrates for the first time that 6-TGN in RBCs may rise to very high levels during impaired renal function. Furthermore, the results support the hypothesis that myelosuppressive side effects of AZA therapy correlate with 6-TGN concentrations. Renal transplant recipients may benefit from the monitoring of AZA through RBC 6-TGN measurements.