A Münch1, F Fernandez-Banares, L K Munck. 1. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, Linköpings University, Linköping, Sweden. andreas.munch@lio.se
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Microscopic colitis (MC) is a common chronic diarrhoeal disease, and remission can be induced with budesonide. However, diarrhoea relapses frequently when budesonide is tapered and a few patients become budesonide intolerant. AIM: To examine retrospectively the effect of azathioprine (AZA) and mercaptopurine (MP) in patients with chronic, active MC. METHODS/PATIENTS: Data on all MC patients who received AZA or MP in the years 1997-2011 at three centres representing three countries were pooled for analysis. The indications for thiopurine therapy were frequent relapses after short-term treatment (N = 26), budesonide dependency on 6 mg (N = 15) and budesonide intolerance (N = 5). The response to thiopurine treatment was defined as clinical remission, intolerance or nonresponse. RESULTS: Forty-six MC patients (32 CC and 14 LC), 32 female; median age 59 years (range: 36-83) with a median disease duration of 3 years (range: 0.5-18) were included. Thirteen patients (28%) achieved long-term clinical remission on AZA therapy. AZA failed in 31 patients (67%) due to intolerance and in 2 patients (4%) because of nonresponse. Thirteen of 31 AZA-intolerant patients were switched to MP and 6 patients (46%) obtained clinical remission. Thus, the overall response rate to thiopurines was 19/46 (41%). The main side effects were nausea/vomiting and abnormally elevated liver enzymes. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective case series, the majority of chronic, active MC patients were intolerant to AZA leading to cessation of treatment. However, further studies are needed to explore the efficacy, acceptance, tolerance and safety of MP in patients with chronic, active MC refractory to budesonide.
BACKGROUND: Microscopic colitis (MC) is a common chronic diarrhoeal disease, and remission can be induced with budesonide. However, diarrhoea relapses frequently when budesonide is tapered and a few patients become budesonide intolerant. AIM: To examine retrospectively the effect of azathioprine (AZA) and mercaptopurine (MP) in patients with chronic, active MC. METHODS/PATIENTS: Data on all MC patients who received AZA or MP in the years 1997-2011 at three centres representing three countries were pooled for analysis. The indications for thiopurine therapy were frequent relapses after short-term treatment (N = 26), budesonide dependency on 6 mg (N = 15) and budesonide intolerance (N = 5). The response to thiopurine treatment was defined as clinical remission, intolerance or nonresponse. RESULTS: Forty-six MC patients (32 CC and 14 LC), 32 female; median age 59 years (range: 36-83) with a median disease duration of 3 years (range: 0.5-18) were included. Thirteen patients (28%) achieved long-term clinical remission on AZA therapy. AZA failed in 31 patients (67%) due to intolerance and in 2 patients (4%) because of nonresponse. Thirteen of 31 AZA-intolerant patients were switched to MP and 6 patients (46%) obtained clinical remission. Thus, the overall response rate to thiopurines was 19/46 (41%). The main side effects were nausea/vomiting and abnormally elevated liver enzymes. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective case series, the majority of chronic, active MC patients were intolerant to AZA leading to cessation of treatment. However, further studies are needed to explore the efficacy, acceptance, tolerance and safety of MP in patients with chronic, active MC refractory to budesonide.
Authors: Niki Daferera; Henrik Hjortswang; Simone Ignatova; Andreas Münch Journal: United European Gastroenterol J Date: 2019-08-20 Impact factor: 4.623
Authors: Stephan Miehlke; Danila Guagnozzi; Yamile Zabana; Gian E Tontini; Anne-Marie Kanstrup Fiehn; Signe Wildt; Johan Bohr; Ole Bonderup; Gerd Bouma; Mauro D'Amato; Peter J Heiberg Engel; Fernando Fernandez-Banares; Gilles Macaigne; Henrik Hjortswang; Elisabeth Hultgren-Hörnquist; Anastasios Koulaouzidis; Jouzas Kupcinskas; Stefania Landolfi; Giovanni Latella; Alfredo Lucendo; Ivan Lyutakov; Ahmed Madisch; Fernando Magro; Wojciech Marlicz; Emese Mihaly; Lars K Munck; Ann-Elisabeth Ostvik; Árpád V Patai; Plamen Penchev; Karolina Skonieczna-Żydecka; Bas Verhaegh; Andreas Münch Journal: United European Gastroenterol J Date: 2021-02-22 Impact factor: 4.623