TPMT and ITPA genetic variants in Lithuanian inflammatory bowel disease patients: Prevalence and azathioprine-related side effects.
2016Advances in medical sciences
Steponaitiene R, Kupcinskas J, Survilaite S, Varkalaite G, Jonaitis L +5 more
Plain English
This study examined how certain genetic variations in Lithuanian patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affect their responses to the medication azathioprine (AZA), particularly in terms of side effects. Among 551 patients, it was found that 11% experienced a serious drop in blood cell counts (myelotoxicity) due to AZA, and those with specific TPMT genetic variants were more likely to experience this issue. The findings highlight the importance of genetic testing to help predict who may suffer from harmful side effects when taking AZA, ultimately improving treatment safety.
Who this helps: This helps patients with inflammatory bowel disease and their doctors.