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. 2020 Sep;40(9):2164-2171.
doi: 10.1111/liv.14513. Epub 2020 Jun 11.

High discontinuation rate of azathioprine in autoimmune hepatitis, independent of time of treatment initiation

Simon Pape  1   2 , Tom J G Gevers  1   2 , Jan Maarten Vrolijk  3 , Bart van Hoek  4 , Gerd Bouma  5 , Carin M J van Nieuwkerk  5 , Richard Taubert  6   2 , Elmar Jaeckel  6   2 , Michael P Manns  6   2 , Maria Papp  7 , Nora Sipeki  7 , Felix Stickel  8 , Cumali Efe  9 , Ersan Ozaslan  10 , Tugrul Purnak  11 , Frederik Nevens  12   2 , Dominik J N Kessener  13 , Alisan Kahraman  13 , Heiner Wedemeyer  13 , Johannes Hartl  14   2 , Christoph Schramm  14   15   2 , Ansgar W Lohse  14   2 , Michael A Heneghan  16   2 , Joost P H Drenth  1   2
Affiliations

High discontinuation rate of azathioprine in autoimmune hepatitis, independent of time of treatment initiation

Simon Pape et al. Liver Int. 2020 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Guidelines regarding treatment for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) favour two strategies for azathioprine (AZA) introduction: concurrent with steroids at induction or delayed by 2-4 weeks. The safety and efficacy of both strategies have been unexplored.

Methods: We established a cohort of 900 AIH patients from 12 centres in 7 European countries. There were 631 patients who used AZA as part of the therapeutic regimen. We distinguished two groups: patients with early AZA (<2 weeks) or delayed AZA initiation (≥2 weeks). Primary outcome was discontinuation of AZA in the first year of treatment. Cox regression and propensity score matching was performed to determine difference in outcomes between groups.

Results: Patients with early AZA initiation had significantly lower transaminases and bilirubin at baseline. Discontinuation rates of AZA did not differ between early and delayed starters (16.6% vs 14.2%), which did not reach statistical significance (hazard ratio 0.97, 95% confidence interval 0.61-1.55, P = .90). Stratification according to baseline disease activity or propensity score matching did not alter the results. Main reason for AZA discontinuation was intolerance to treatment (14.0% vs 13.2%, P = .78) with nausea and vomiting as main side effects. AIH remission rates were comparable among groups.

Conclusion: The discontinuation rate of AZA in AIH treatment is ~15% in the first year of treatment. Early or delayed AZA initiation does not differ in remission and discontinuation rates in AIH induction therapy. Our data suggest that either strategy may be used as part of AIH treatment.

Keywords: autoimmune hepatitis; azathioprine; cohort study; immunosupression.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Rates of insufficient response and main side effects when patients experienced intolerance which lead to AZA discontinuation. AZA, azathioprine. GI, gastrointestinal
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Discontinuation rate of azathioprine.
    Crouwel F, Buiter HJC, de Boer NK. Crouwel F, et al. Liver Int. 2020 Dec;40(12):3141. doi: 10.1111/liv.14574. Epub 2020 Jul 5. Liver Int. 2020. PMID: 32627355 No abstract available.
  • Discontinuation rate of azathioprine.
    Snijders RJALM, Pape S, Gevers TJG, Drenth JPH. Snijders RJALM, et al. Liver Int. 2020 Nov;40(11):2878. doi: 10.1111/liv.14615. Epub 2020 Aug 3. Liver Int. 2020. PMID: 32744415 No abstract available.

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