Azathioprine in the treatment of autoimmune blistering diseases.

Volker Meyer, Stefan Beissert

Department of Dermatology, University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 58, D-48149 Muenster, Germany.

Immunology and allergy clinics of North America 2012 May

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Although there are no standard guidelines for the treatment of autoimmune blistering diseases, azathioprine has shown good efficacy in acquired autoimmune blistering diseases, and is well tolerated. Side effects of azathioprine normally occur in mild variants. Severe reactions are due to reduced thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) or inosine triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase (ITPA) activity. Therefore, screening for TPMT activity should be conducted in white patients and Africans, whereas Japanese should be screened for ITPA activity before therapy with azathioprine is started. Azathioprine is clinically meaningful for the treatment of pemphigus. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Citation

Volker Meyer, Stefan Beissert. Azathioprine in the treatment of autoimmune blistering diseases. Immunology and allergy clinics of North America. 2012 May;32(2):295-307, vii-viii