Azathioprine in dermatology: a survey of current practice in the U.K.

✍ Scribed by B.B. TAN; J.T. LEAR; D.J. GAWKRODGER; J.S.C. ENGLISH

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 466 KB
• Volume: 136
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0007-0963
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1997.d01-1198.x

✦ Synopsis

Azathioprine has an important role in treatment of many inflammatory dermatoses. In view of the current emphasis on evidence-based medicine, we performed a questionnaire-based survey to establish current practice in the use of azathioprine by consultant dermatologists and associate specialists in the U.K. The response rate was 68%. In contrast with the manufacturer's recommendation, our data provide evidence that azathioprine is useful in the treatment of a wide variety of dermatological diseases. However, there is still a need for controlled trials in some conditions. The most common conditions treated were pemphigoid, pemphigus and atopic eczema. In addition, we found that only 13% of dermatologists prescribe azathioprine according to body weight. Most dermatologists felt that azathioprine was well tolerated. No one tested for thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) activity, which is thought to be a predictor of severe myelosuppression. The combination of prescribing azathioprine according to body weight and measuring TPMT activity would optimize efficacy and minimize potential severe myelotoxicity.