Azathioprine: a guide for the management of dermatology patients

Abstract

Azathioprine, a prodrug of 6-mercaptopurine, was developed over four decades ago. Since its development, azathioprine has been shown to have antileukemic, anti-inflammatory, and immunosuppressive properties. Hence, the reason azathioprine is used in multiple medical specialties. In the dermatology field, it is used as an immunosuppressant and corticosteroid-sparing agent for the treatment of several cutaneous diseases. In this article, the present authors review the following aspects relating to azathioprine: history, pharmacokinetics, significance of thiopurine methyltransferase, side effects, contraindications, therapeutic uses, and recommended evaluation and monitoring for patients initiating azathioprine.