Thiopurines: Recent Topics and Their Role in the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

    January 2021 in “ Frontiers in Pharmacology ”
    Keiichi Tominaga, Takeshi Sugaya, Takanao Tanaka, Mimari Kanazawa, Makoto Iijima, Atsushi Irisawa
    TLDR Thiopurines help treat IBD but require genetic testing to avoid side effects.
    The document reviewed the role of thiopurines in treating inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), emphasizing their effectiveness in maintaining remission and the importance of genetic testing to minimize adverse effects. Thiopurines, such as azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine, were effective but posed risks like leukopenia and alopecia, particularly in individuals with NUDT15 polymorphisms. Combination therapy with biological agents showed improved outcomes. The review highlighted the need for personalized medicine approaches, including pharmacogenetic testing, to optimize treatment and minimize side effects, and called for further research to balance the benefits and risks of thiopurines.
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