Abstract
Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of azathioprine in a paediatric population with inflammatory bowel disease. Patients and methods: One hundred and twenty-three Italian children treated with azathioprine were studied retrospectively. The treatment duration and causes of its discontinuation, side-effects and variation in corticosteroid dose were assessed. Results: The mean age at inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis was 9.8 ± 3.6 years, and at the start of azathioprine therapy 11.8 ± 4.3 years. The mean duration of treatment was 19 ± 16 months. Fifty patients (41%) stopped treatment due to surgery (12%), prolonged remission (11%), non-response (7%), severe side-effects (7%) and poor compliance (3%). Of the 73 patients (59%) remaining on azathioprine. 11 had never been treated with corticosteroids, 27 were able to stop them and 35 were still on a very low daily dose (91% <0.3 mg/kg). The difference in the daily corticosteroid dose between the beginning of azathioprine treatment (1 ± 0.6 mg/kg) and the conclusion of the study (0.18 ± 0.16 mg/kg) was statistically significant. Side-effects were recorded in 48 of the 123 patients (39%), but only eight required discontinuation of azathioprine. Conclusions: Azathioprine was efficacious in 70% of patients, but ineffective in 20% and induced severe toxicity in 7%. Corticosteroids were stopped or markedly reduced in 62% of patients, but they were never given in 9%.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1125-1130 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2002 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology (medical)
- Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics(all)
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Azathioprine in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease : An italian multicentre survey. / Barabino, A.; Torrente, F.; Ventura, A.; Cucchiara, S.; Castro, M.; Barbera, C.
In: Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vol. 16, No. 6, 2002, p. 1125-1130.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Azathioprine in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease
T2 - An italian multicentre survey
AU - Barabino, A.
AU - Torrente, F.
AU - Ventura, A.
AU - Cucchiara, S.
AU - Castro, M.
AU - Barbera, C.
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of azathioprine in a paediatric population with inflammatory bowel disease. Patients and methods: One hundred and twenty-three Italian children treated with azathioprine were studied retrospectively. The treatment duration and causes of its discontinuation, side-effects and variation in corticosteroid dose were assessed. Results: The mean age at inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis was 9.8 ± 3.6 years, and at the start of azathioprine therapy 11.8 ± 4.3 years. The mean duration of treatment was 19 ± 16 months. Fifty patients (41%) stopped treatment due to surgery (12%), prolonged remission (11%), non-response (7%), severe side-effects (7%) and poor compliance (3%). Of the 73 patients (59%) remaining on azathioprine. 11 had never been treated with corticosteroids, 27 were able to stop them and 35 were still on a very low daily dose (91% <0.3 mg/kg). The difference in the daily corticosteroid dose between the beginning of azathioprine treatment (1 ± 0.6 mg/kg) and the conclusion of the study (0.18 ± 0.16 mg/kg) was statistically significant. Side-effects were recorded in 48 of the 123 patients (39%), but only eight required discontinuation of azathioprine. Conclusions: Azathioprine was efficacious in 70% of patients, but ineffective in 20% and induced severe toxicity in 7%. Corticosteroids were stopped or markedly reduced in 62% of patients, but they were never given in 9%.
AB - Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of azathioprine in a paediatric population with inflammatory bowel disease. Patients and methods: One hundred and twenty-three Italian children treated with azathioprine were studied retrospectively. The treatment duration and causes of its discontinuation, side-effects and variation in corticosteroid dose were assessed. Results: The mean age at inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis was 9.8 ± 3.6 years, and at the start of azathioprine therapy 11.8 ± 4.3 years. The mean duration of treatment was 19 ± 16 months. Fifty patients (41%) stopped treatment due to surgery (12%), prolonged remission (11%), non-response (7%), severe side-effects (7%) and poor compliance (3%). Of the 73 patients (59%) remaining on azathioprine. 11 had never been treated with corticosteroids, 27 were able to stop them and 35 were still on a very low daily dose (91% <0.3 mg/kg). The difference in the daily corticosteroid dose between the beginning of azathioprine treatment (1 ± 0.6 mg/kg) and the conclusion of the study (0.18 ± 0.16 mg/kg) was statistically significant. Side-effects were recorded in 48 of the 123 patients (39%), but only eight required discontinuation of azathioprine. Conclusions: Azathioprine was efficacious in 70% of patients, but ineffective in 20% and induced severe toxicity in 7%. Corticosteroids were stopped or markedly reduced in 62% of patients, but they were never given in 9%.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035999146&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035999146&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1046/j.1365-2036.2002.01269.x
DO - 10.1046/j.1365-2036.2002.01269.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 12030954
AN - SCOPUS:0035999146
VL - 16
SP - 1125
EP - 1130
JO - Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
JF - Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
SN - 0269-2813
IS - 6
ER -