Vasudevan A, Beswick L, Friedman AB, Moltzen A, Haridy J, Raghunath A, Sparrow M, van Langenberg D. Low-dose thiopurine with allopurinol co-therapy overcomes thiopurine intolerance and allows thiopurine continuation in inflammatory bowel disease.
Dig Liver Dis 2018. [PMID:
29525182 DOI:
10.1016/j.dld.2018.02.001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
AIMS
To assess the utility and tolerability of thiopurine-allopurinol co-therapy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients with intolerance to thiopurine monotherapy.
METHODS
A retrospective observational study assessed cases of thiopurine intolerance then switched to thiopurine allopurinol co-therapy between 2011 and 2015 at two centres. Indications for switch, dosing and subsequent clinical outcomes (including thiopurine persistence) were recorded.
RESULTS
Of 767 patients on thiopurines for IBD, 89 (12%) were switched to co-therapy for intolerance. 64/89 (72%) had Crohn's disease, 38 (43%) were males, median age at switch was 40y (range 17-78), median IBD duration 6y (0-29). Median follow-up was 1.9y (0-5). Reasons for switching to co-therapy included fatigue (37%), hepatotoxicity (23%), nausea (23%), arthralgia (10%), headache (12%) and hypersensitivity reaction (4%). Overall, 66 (74%) patients remained on co-therapy until most recent review and achieved a clinical response. High rates of overcoming intolerance (62-100%) occurred with co-therapy for all reasons above, although fatigue was less amenable to switching than non-fatigue indications (62% vs 91%, p = <0.001). Of 34 patients not escalated to biologics with endoscopic data, 15 were in remission (44%) at most recent review.
CONCLUSION
Low-dose thiopurine combined with allopurinol appears safe and effective in overcoming intolerances to thiopurine monotherapy in many cases.
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