[Immunosuppressants for therapy of patients with ulcerative colitis]

Nihon Rinsho. 2005 May;63(5):831-5.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis (UC) has been known as inflammatory bowel disease. Progress in UC management strategies has led to optimized approaches for achieving the two primary clinical goals of therapy: induction and maintenance of remission. We here review about immunosuppressants in management of UC; Cyclosporine A (CsA) has been used for the induction therapy in steroid resistant refractory UC. Although it has been reported that CsA has high response rate in severe UC, long-term efficacy (maintenance of remission) has not been proven. To improve maintenance therapy, immunosuppressant has been re-considered in management of UC. In recent years, it has been reported that efficacy of 6-mercaptopurine/azathioprine in maintenance of remission of UC is superior to 5-aminosalicylate (5-ASA). Pharmacological studies have indicated thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) activity is essential for maintenance of blood concentration of 6-thioguanine nucleotide (6-TG).

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Azathioprine / administration & dosage*
  • Azathioprine / adverse effects
  • Azathioprine / metabolism
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / drug therapy*
  • Cyclosporine / administration & dosage
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Guanine Nucleotides / blood
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Mercaptopurine / administration & dosage*
  • Mercaptopurine / adverse effects
  • Mercaptopurine / metabolism
  • Methyltransferases / metabolism
  • Mycophenolic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Mycophenolic Acid / adverse effects
  • Mycophenolic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Tacrolimus / administration & dosage
  • Tacrolimus / adverse effects
  • Thionucleotides / blood

Substances

  • Guanine Nucleotides
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Thionucleotides
  • 6-thioguanylic acid
  • Cyclosporine
  • Mercaptopurine
  • Methyltransferases
  • thiopurine methyltransferase
  • Mycophenolic Acid
  • Azathioprine
  • Tacrolimus