Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 1984 Feb;17(2):171-2.
doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1984.tb02333.x.

Severe megaloblastic anaemia associated with abnormal azathioprine metabolism

L Lennard, M F Murphy, J L Maddocks
Case Reports

Severe megaloblastic anaemia associated with abnormal azathioprine metabolism

L Lennard et al. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1984 Feb.

Abstract

Severe anaemia is a rare, unexplained, side effect of azathioprine therapy. We report here such a case associated with a previously unreported abnormality in azathioprine metabolism. A 57 year old man on azathioprine therapy, for a presumed collagen vascular disease, developed severe megaloblastic anaemia. This resolved on cessation of azathioprine treatment. A very high concentration of an azathioprine metabolite, 6-thioguanine nucleotide, was found in the patient's red blood cells and this was confirmed by subsequent rechallenge with a single dose of 50 mg azathioprine.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. J Pediatr. 1968 Jan;72(1):111-8 - PubMed
    1. Transplantation. 1974 Nov;18(5):443-6 - PubMed
    1. J Pharm Pharmacol. 1983 Jan;35(1):15-8 - PubMed
    1. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1983 Oct;16(4):359-63 - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources