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Levels of the active metabolites of azathioprine, 6-thioguanine (6-TG) and 6-methylmercaptopurine (6-MMP), sometimes are measured in patients with inflammatory bowel disease who receive azathioprine so that drug doses can be adjusted to remain in the therapeutic range without engendering excessive toxicity. However, whether monitoring 6-TG and 6-MMP levels is beneficial in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) who receive azathioprine is unclear. Investigators from Duke University retrospectively evaluated data on 6-TG and 6-MMP levels and on thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT; converts 6-TG to 6-MMP) genotyping and enzyme activity in patients with AIH who received azathioprine therapy with or without prednisone.
From 1995 through 2001, 8…