TRC: Azathioprine in IBD

Azathioprine in IBD

Azathioprine

Immunomodulating agents like azathioprine and its active metabolite mercaptopurine are often used in inflammatory bowel disease. These agents serve either as alternatives when corticosteroids are not tolerated or as adjunctive therapy when the disease is refractory.

Azathioprine is converted to 6-MP, which is then metabolized to thioinosinic acid, which inhibits purine ribonucleotide synthesis and cell proliferation and inhibits natural killer cell activity and cytotoxic T-cell function. See also azathioprine in the immunology section.

The greatest benefit from adding azathioprine to an ulcerative colitis regimen is:

Extra info: Close Although azathioprine is itself not adverse event-free, its ability to avoid corticosteroid use makes it an important agent for IBD.

Option explanation:

decreased cost of therapy

lower doses of corticosteroids

faster time to disease response

longer periods of remission

Azathioprine in IBD

Azathioprine

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