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Characterisation and utility of thiopurine methyltransferase and thiopurine metabolite measurements in autoimmune hepatitis.

Hindorf, Ulf LU ; Jahed, Khatoon ; Bergquist, Annika ; Verbaan, Hans LU ; Prytz, Hanne LU ; Wallerstedt, Sven ; Werner, Mårten ; Olsson, Rolf LU ; Björnsson, Einar and Peterson, Curt , et al. (2010) In Journal of Hepatology 52. p.106-111
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Corticosteroids alone or in conjunction with azathioprine (AZA) is the standard treatment in autoimmune hepatitis (AiH). Individual variations in thiopurine (TP) metabolism may affect both drug efficacy and toxicity. Our aim was to investigate the utility of thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) as well as thioguanine nucleotide (TGN) and methylthioinosine monophosphate (meTIMP) metabolite measurements with regard to clinical outcome. METHODS: Two hundred thirty-eight patients with AiH were included in this cross-sectional study. TPMT status was assessed in all patients, while TGN and meTIMP were measured in patients with ongoing TP medication. Clinical outcome was evaluated by liver tests and the ability to withdraw... (More)
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Corticosteroids alone or in conjunction with azathioprine (AZA) is the standard treatment in autoimmune hepatitis (AiH). Individual variations in thiopurine (TP) metabolism may affect both drug efficacy and toxicity. Our aim was to investigate the utility of thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) as well as thioguanine nucleotide (TGN) and methylthioinosine monophosphate (meTIMP) metabolite measurements with regard to clinical outcome. METHODS: Two hundred thirty-eight patients with AiH were included in this cross-sectional study. TPMT status was assessed in all patients, while TGN and meTIMP were measured in patients with ongoing TP medication. Clinical outcome was evaluated by liver tests and the ability to withdraw steroids. RESULTS: TPMT genotyping (n=229) revealed 207 (90.4%) wild-type and 22 heterozygous patients. One hundred forty-three patients had ongoing TP therapy with AZA (n=134) or mercaptopurine (MP; n=9); response was judged as complete response (CR) in 113 patients and partial response (PR) in 30 patients. Both TP dose (1.64 vs 1.19mg/kg; p=0.012) and TPMT activity (14.3 vs 13.5; p=0.05) were higher in PR, resulting in similar TGN levels (PR: 121pmol/8x10(8) red blood cells [RBC]; CR: 113pmol/8x10(8) RBC; p=0.33) but higher meTIMP levels in PR (1350 vs 400pmol/8x10(8) RBC; p=0.004). Patients able to withdraw steroids or who were using 5mg prednisolone daily were treated with lower TP doses than patients on higher steroid doses (1.15 vs 1.18 vs 1.82mg/kg; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: TP metabolite measurements are of clinical value in AiH patients who do not respond to standard TP treatment and for the identification of a shifted metabolism, which may demand an alternative treatment strategy. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Hepatology
volume
52
pages
106 - 111
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000273509600015
  • pmid:19906459
  • scopus:71149092879
  • pmid:19906459
ISSN
0168-8278
DOI
10.1016/j.jhep.2009.10.004
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Medical Radiology Unit (013241410), Emergency medicine/Medicine/Surgery (013240200), Medicine (Lund) (013230025)
id
d69ef2de-0ccc-4b62-a1b1-2b0e55597a22 (old id 1512012)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19906459?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 08:54:59
date last changed
2024-01-12 06:00:36
@article{d69ef2de-0ccc-4b62-a1b1-2b0e55597a22,
  abstract     = {{BACKGROUND &amp; AIMS: Corticosteroids alone or in conjunction with azathioprine (AZA) is the standard treatment in autoimmune hepatitis (AiH). Individual variations in thiopurine (TP) metabolism may affect both drug efficacy and toxicity. Our aim was to investigate the utility of thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) as well as thioguanine nucleotide (TGN) and methylthioinosine monophosphate (meTIMP) metabolite measurements with regard to clinical outcome. METHODS: Two hundred thirty-eight patients with AiH were included in this cross-sectional study. TPMT status was assessed in all patients, while TGN and meTIMP were measured in patients with ongoing TP medication. Clinical outcome was evaluated by liver tests and the ability to withdraw steroids. RESULTS: TPMT genotyping (n=229) revealed 207 (90.4%) wild-type and 22 heterozygous patients. One hundred forty-three patients had ongoing TP therapy with AZA (n=134) or mercaptopurine (MP; n=9); response was judged as complete response (CR) in 113 patients and partial response (PR) in 30 patients. Both TP dose (1.64 vs 1.19mg/kg; p=0.012) and TPMT activity (14.3 vs 13.5; p=0.05) were higher in PR, resulting in similar TGN levels (PR: 121pmol/8x10(8) red blood cells [RBC]; CR: 113pmol/8x10(8) RBC; p=0.33) but higher meTIMP levels in PR (1350 vs 400pmol/8x10(8) RBC; p=0.004). Patients able to withdraw steroids or who were using 5mg prednisolone daily were treated with lower TP doses than patients on higher steroid doses (1.15 vs 1.18 vs 1.82mg/kg; p&lt;0.001). CONCLUSIONS: TP metabolite measurements are of clinical value in AiH patients who do not respond to standard TP treatment and for the identification of a shifted metabolism, which may demand an alternative treatment strategy.}},
  author       = {{Hindorf, Ulf and Jahed, Khatoon and Bergquist, Annika and Verbaan, Hans and Prytz, Hanne and Wallerstedt, Sven and Werner, Mårten and Olsson, Rolf and Björnsson, Einar and Peterson, Curt and Almer, Sven H C}},
  issn         = {{0168-8278}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{106--111}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Hepatology}},
  title        = {{Characterisation and utility of thiopurine methyltransferase and thiopurine metabolite measurements in autoimmune hepatitis.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2009.10.004}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jhep.2009.10.004}},
  volume       = {{52}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}