• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.35-39
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• 2017

Azathioprine is commonly used as immunosuppressive therapy for various inflammatory diseases including chronic glomerulonephritis. Myelosuppression is a common side effect of azathioprine, resulting in the need for dose reduction. However, severe pancytopenia or alopecia is not often encountered. Here, we report a case of severe myelosuppression, and alopecia totalis that occurred after azathioprine treatment in a patient with IgA nephropathy. A 10-year-old boy with IgA nephropathy was treated with oral deflazacort and later with azathioprine. After 4 weeks, the patient complained of hair loss, and despite a dose reduction in azathioprine, he developed bone marrow suppression and alopecia totalis in two weeks. The blood indices and alopecia of the patient had returned to normal after azathioprine withdrawal and 3 consecutive doses of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. We suggest that physicians remain vigilant to the side effects of azathioprine. Unusual hair loss after azathioprine treatment might suggest a defect in the metabolism of the drug, warranting the discontinuation of azathioprine to prevent more severe side effects.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.65-70
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• 2013

Azathioprine is the most common drug used to maintain clinical remission in inflammatory bowel disease. This drug is also important as a steroid-sparing agent in steroid-dependent and chronically active inflammatory bowel disease. Nevertheless, many questions remain concerning the optimal treatment regimens of azathioprine. The dose of azathioprine has to be reduced or the therapy has to be discontinued frequently because of drug-induced toxicity. In this review, we discuss monitoring of thiopurines, adverse events, malignant complications and how to use azathioprine safely and usefully.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.192-196
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• 2022

A two-year-old, intact male, 45 kg Doberman Pinscher was referred with dermal nodular lesions affecting the left hindlimb. The cytological examination revealed eosinophilic inflammation. Skin biopsy specimens showed canine eosinophilic granuloma (CEG). The dog was administered oral prednisolone (1.5 mg/kg/day) and azathioprine (2 mg/kg/day). After one week, the skin lesions diminished dramatically, but the dog presented with severe watery diarrhea. The prednisolone dose was reduced by 0.9 mg/kg/day. The lesions and diarrhea improved markedly after one week. Prednisolone was tapered by 25% of the previous dose every week to 0.2 mg/kg/day. Azathioprine was also reduced to therapy every other day. After seven weeks of combination treatment, the medications were withdrawn, but the dog had a recurrence one week later. Azathioprine (2 mg/kg/EOD) was reintroduced for two weeks. There was no relapse after all the medications had been withdrawn. This case indicates that CEG can be managed with prednisolone and azathioprine. Azathioprine may be an effective adjunctive immunosuppressive agent, and may be considered as a well-tolerated prednisolone sparing agent to treat CEG.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.171-177
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was aimed to evaluate the frequency and course of adverse events associated with azathioprine treatment in Korean pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: Total of 174 pediatric patients (age range, 1 to 19 years) with inflammatory bowel disease who received azathioprine in order to maintain remission at Samsung Medical Center (Seoul, Korea) from January 2002 through December 2012 were included in this study. Medical records of these subjects were retrospectively reviewed regarding the development of adverse events associated with azathioprine treatment. Results: Ninety-eight patients (56.3%) of 174 patients experienced 136 episodes of adverse events, requiring dose reduction in 31 patients (17.8%), and discontinuation in 18 patients (10.3%). The mean dose of azathioprine that had been initially administered was $1.32{\pm}0.42$ mg/kg/day. Among the adverse reactions, bone marrow suppression developed in 47 patients (27.0%), requiring dose reduction in 22 patients (12.6%) and discontinuation in 8 patients (4.6%). Other adverse events that occurred were gastrointestinal disturbance (15.5%), hair loss (12.1%), pancreatitis (7.5%), arthralgia (6.9%), hepatotoxicity (2.9%), skin rash/allergic reactions (2.9%), headache/dizziness (2.3%), sepsis (0.6%), and oral mucositis (0.6%). Conclusion: Bone marrow suppression, especially leukopenia was most commonly associated with azathioprine treatment in Korean pediatric inflammatory bowel disease patients. Close observation for possible adverse events is required in this population with inflammatory bowel diseases who are under treatment with azathioprine.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.46-51
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• 2019

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory intestinal condition. With development of various treatment options for IBD, 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) agents became the drugs of choice due to high efficacy and low risk of complication, specifically effective at inducing and maintaining remission in ulcerative colitis(UC). Pancytopenia caused by 5-ASA agents, especially by mesalazine, has been rarely reported compared with azathioprine, which is commonly used for glucocorticoid-dependent IBD and known to have risk of bone marrow suppression. In the present report, we describe the case of a 57-year-old woman diagnosed with UC, who developed pancytopenia due to adverse effect of mesalazine after recovery from azathioprine-induced pancytopenia. After withdrawal of mesalazine, the laboratory values consistent with myelosuppression continued for 3 months while pancytopenia from azathioprine remained only for 2 weeks. Since pancytopenia can be fatal due to its risk of severe bleeding and infection, close monitoring of clinical presentation is important when starting mesalazine and laboratory data should be evaluated whenever the patients present related symptoms. Furthermore, we suggest that complete blood cell counts should be considered when resuming mesalazine following the development of pancytopenia from any cause, as routinely recommended for azathioprine use.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.118-124
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• 1998

목 적 : HS 신염은 확정된 특별한 치료지침이 없으며, 신염의 정도가 심한 경우 단일 스테로이드 요법으로 치료 효과가 좋지 않으므로 장기간 스테로이드 투여 및 azathioprine의 병합에 의한 치료 효과를 관찰하기 위해 본 연구를 시행하였다. 대상 및 방법 : Henoch-$Sch{\ddot{o}}nlein$ purpura(HSP)로 진단 받은 후 심한 단백뇨(40 mg/hr/$m^2$ 이상)를 보인 HS 신염 환아 5례(남자 2례, 여자 3례)를 대상으로 신장 생검을 실시하여 ISKDC grade III 이상을 보인 환아를 대상으로 하였고 치료방법은 1)스테로이드 pulse치료를 격일로 6회 정주한 다음, 2) 경구로 스테로이드를 2mg/kg/day(최대 80mg/day) 1개월 투여한 후 1 mg/kg/day으로 1 개월 투여하고 2년간 격일로 1mg/kg/day경구 투여하였다. 3)스테로이드 pulse치료 시행 뒤 azathioprine(2 mg/kg/day)을 2년간 병합하여 경구 투여하였다. 단백뇨 및 미세 혈뇨를 추적 검사하여 임상적 관해 여부를 조사하였고 추적 신장조직 검사를 시행하였다. 결 과 :발병 평균 연령은 $10.5{\pm}3.4$년이었으며 HSP에서 신염으로의 발병 기간은 2주에서 5개월로 평균 $7.4{\pm}7.4$주이었다. 24시간 뇨단백은 평균 $4857.8{\pm}2046.1$ mg/day이었다. 임상적 관해는 5례 중 4례($80\%$)로 단백뇨 소실의 평균기간은 $5{\pm}2.4$개월, 미세혈뇨의 소실 기간은 평균 $13.3{\pm}2.9$개월이었다. 병리학적 소견은 ISKDC 분류로 Crade IIIb가 3례, Grade VI가 2례로 추적 신장 조직 검사를 시행한 4례 중 3례에서 조직학적으로 호전된 양상을 보였다. 결 론 : 아직까지 HS 신염에 대한 확정된 치료 지침이 없는 상황에서 본 연구의 장기간 스테로이드 경구 투여 및 azathioprine의 병합 요법이 임상적, 조직학적으로 효과가 있는 것으로 생각되며 앞으로 더 많은 환아에서 추적 관찰이 필요하다.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.233-239
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• 1995

To verify the effect of immunosuppressants on the endotoxin-induced increase in iNOS activity, the action of immunosuppressants, dexamethasone (1.5 mg/kg), azathioprine (5 mg/kg/day) and cyclosporine (10 mg/kg), were evaluated in mice pretreated with LPS. The intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (10 mg/kg) increased the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in the brain and liver to maximum at 1 and 3 hours, respectively. The increase in NOS activity was blocked by the treatment with NOS inhibitor, LNAME(300 mg/kg) and aminoguanidine(100 mg/kg); a protein inhibitor, cycloheximide (10 mg/kg); and a transcription inhibitor of inducible NOS(iNOS), dexamethasone(1.5 mg/kg). Immunosuppressants, azathioprine (5 mg/kg) and cyclosporine (10 mg/kg), effectively blocked the increase in NOS activity. These results suggest that iNOS expression plays an important role in LPS-induced the increase in NOS activity and that immunosuppressants can be used as candidate for therapeutic agents in endotoxemia.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.395-398
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• 2006

A 2-month-old female Shih-tzu dog was referred because of lameness, exercise intolerance, depression, elbow and stifle joint swelling. Physical examination, complete blood counts, serum-chemistry, radiography, synovial fluid analysis, antinuclear antibody test, and rheumatoid factor measurement were initiated. On radiography, soft tissue swelling of elbow and stifle joints without erosiveness were founded. The results of synovial fluid analysis revealed severe neutrophilic pleocytosis (nondegenerative), decreased viscosity, increased turbidity, positive on mucin-clot test, and negative on bacterial culture. The results of rheumatoid factor measurement and antinuclear antibody test were negative and below 1 : 40, respectively. Based on all tests, we diagnosed this case as juvenile onset type I immune-mediated polyarthritis. Azathioprine (1 mg/kg body weight, per os q 24 h, for 4 weeks) was then administered and clinical signs improved gradually. Four weeks after azathioprine administration, clinical signs were disappeared. This report describes the clinical findings, imaging characteristics, synovial fluid findings, and other laboratory results of type I immune-mediated polyarthritis and successful management with azathioprine therapy.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.396-399
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• 2008

A 2-year-old intact female dachshund dog was presented with recurrent subcutaneous nodules and fistulations on the neck, back and hip. The patient was diagnosed as a sterile nodular panniculitis based on the cytology, histopathology, and cultures for bacteria and fungus. The fistulas were surgically removed and methylprednisolone was administrated 2 mg/kg twice daily per oral. The lesions were all disappeared, but the relapses were happened when the dosage of the drug was tapered off. The repeated treatments with methylprednisolone or azathioprine were performed, consequently, the patient was controlled with relatively low-dosage methylprednisolone (0.25 mg/kg, every third day).

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제59권sup1호
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• pp.99-102
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• 2016

Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome is a rare disease, often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed in children. We describe the case of a 12-year-old boy who presented to Severance Hospital with a 1-month history of bilateral conjunctival injection. He was first evaluated by an Ophthalmologist in another hospital and diagnosed with panuveitis. Laboratory tests indicated renal failure, and a renal biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of acute tubulointerstitial nephritis. An extensive exclusion of all possible causes allowed a diagnosis of TINU syndrome. The patient was treated with a systemic corticosteroid (initially prednisolone, 2 mg/kg and later deflazacort 1 mg/kg) and topical steroid drops for 1 month. Azathioprine was later added to the treatment regimen and the systemic steroid was slowly tapered. The final outcome of renal-ocular disease was favorable in the patient. However, long-term follow-up is necessary to properly manage frequent relapses and incomplete renal recovery. TINU should be considered as a differential diagnosis in children with uveitis or acute renal failure.