Abstract
The goals of treatment for ulcerative colitis (UC) are to induce and maintain corticosteroid-free remission, thereby reducing hospitalizations and surgeries and preventing longer-term disease complications including colorectal cancer. Despite an incomplete evidence base, thiopurine immunomodulators remain a principle therapeutic option for patients failing aminosalicylate monotherapy and requiring multiple courses of corticosteroids. In this review, we outline the current evidence supporting the role of thiopurines in achieving these treatment goals in UC, including discussions of the important safety issues regarding their use. We also explore some of the recent evidence emerging in regards to the risks of lymphoproliferative disease, dosage optimization strategies and the role of thiopurines in achieving mucosal healing in UC and ultimately changing natural history outcomes for our patients.
Keywords: Azathioporine, 6-mercaptopurine, thiopurines, immunomodulators, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, Colonoscopy, AZA, Nodular regenerative hyperplasia
Current Drug Targets
Title: Thiopurine Immunomodulators in Ulcerative Colitis: Moving Forward with Current Evidence
Volume: 12 Issue: 10
Author(s): Richard J. La Nauze and Miles P. Sparrow
Affiliation:
Keywords: Azathioporine, 6-mercaptopurine, thiopurines, immunomodulators, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, Colonoscopy, AZA, Nodular regenerative hyperplasia
Abstract: The goals of treatment for ulcerative colitis (UC) are to induce and maintain corticosteroid-free remission, thereby reducing hospitalizations and surgeries and preventing longer-term disease complications including colorectal cancer. Despite an incomplete evidence base, thiopurine immunomodulators remain a principle therapeutic option for patients failing aminosalicylate monotherapy and requiring multiple courses of corticosteroids. In this review, we outline the current evidence supporting the role of thiopurines in achieving these treatment goals in UC, including discussions of the important safety issues regarding their use. We also explore some of the recent evidence emerging in regards to the risks of lymphoproliferative disease, dosage optimization strategies and the role of thiopurines in achieving mucosal healing in UC and ultimately changing natural history outcomes for our patients.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
J. La Nauze Richard and P. Sparrow Miles, Thiopurine Immunomodulators in Ulcerative Colitis: Moving Forward with Current Evidence, Current Drug Targets 2011; 12 (10) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945011796818180
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945011796818180 |
Print ISSN 1389-4501 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-5592 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
New drug therapy for eye diseases
Eyesight is one of the most critical senses, accounting for over 80% of our perceptions. Our quality of life might be significantly affected by eye disease, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye, etc. Although the development of microinvasive ocular surgery reduces surgical complications and improves overall outcomes, medication therapy is ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Old Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Newcomers in Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment
Current Cancer Drug Targets Rapid Screening of Different Types of Antitumor Compound Groups from Traditional Chinese Medicine by Hollow Fiber Cell Fishing with High Performance Liquid Chromatography
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Inhibition of Transcription Factors by Plant-Derived Compounds and their Implications in Inflammation and Cancer
Current Pharmaceutical Design Promising Strategies for Overcoming BRAF Inhibitor Resistance Based on Known Resistance Mechanisms
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Dextran-based Nanocarriers for Delivery of Bioactives
Current Pharmaceutical Design Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Inhibitors in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Current Drug Targets Comprehensive Review of Cancer Chemopreventive Agents Evaluated in Experimental Carcinogenesis Models and Clinical Trials
Current Medicinal Chemistry Targeting Histone Deacetylases in Neuroblastoma
Current Pharmaceutical Design CCR5 as a Potential Target in Cancer Therapy: Inhibition or Stimulation?
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Induction of Apoptosis and Sensitization of Head and Neck Squamous Carcinoma Cells to Cisplatin by Targeting Survivin Gene Expression
Current Gene Therapy A Critical Review of Second-Generation Anti-EGFR Monoclonal Antibodies in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Current Drug Targets The Plasma microRNA miR-1914* and -1915 Suppresses Chemoresistant in Colorectal Cancer Patients by Down-regulating NFIX.
Current Molecular Medicine Interactions of Cisplatin with non-DNA Targets and their Influence on Anticancer Activity and Drug Toxicity: The Complex World of the Platinum Complex
Current Cancer Drug Targets A Review on the Role of Nanosensors in Detecting Cellular miRNA Expression in Colorectal Cancer
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Inhibition of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) as a Potential Strategy to Ameliorate Hypertension-Induced Cardiovascular Alterations
Current Drug Targets Therapeutic Transfer of DNA Encoding Adenoviral E1A
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Association between Serum Vitamin D Level and Echocardiographic Abnormalities in Patients with Thalassemia Major
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets Vitamin D and Cancer Stem Cells in the Gastrointestinal Tract
Current Medicinal Chemistry The Metastatic Process: Methodological Advances and Pharmacological Challenges
Current Medicinal Chemistry Carcinoembryonic Antigen as a Target to Induce Anti-Tumor Immune Responses
Current Cancer Drug Targets