Long-term outcome of using allopurinol co-therapy as a strategy for overcoming thiopurine hepatotoxicity in treating inflammatory bowel disease

Background\ua0Hepatotoxicity results in the withdrawal of thiopurines drugs, azathioprine (AZA) and mercaptopurine (MP), in up to 10% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Our group previously demonstrated that allopurinol with AZA/ciclosporin/steroid 'triple therapy' improved renal graft survival.Aim\ua0 To confirm the hypothesis that allopurinol may alleviate thiopurine hepatotoxicity by similar mechanisms as proposed in our renal study.Methods\ua0 Unselected patients with acute thiopurine hepatotoxicity were offered allopurinol co-therapy with low-dose AZA or MP. The starting AZA/MP dose was determined by thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) activity (two patients were intermediate TPMT); then this dose was reduced to 25% for allopurinol co-therapy. Response to treatment was assessed by clinical severity indices, endoscopy and blood tests.Results\ua0 Of 11 patients (three Crohn's disease, eight ulcerative colitis) treated, nine (82%) remain in long-term remission (median 42\ua0months) with normal liver tests. One patient also successfully bypassed flu-like symptoms. Two stopped: one nausea, one abnormal liver function (steatosis on biopsy). Leucopenia occurred in two cases and resolved with minor dose reductions.Conclusions\ua0 Allopurinol co-therapy with low-dose AZA/MP can alleviate thiopurine hepatotoxicity. It appears safe and effective for long-term use, but requires monitoring for myelotoxicity. Assessing the TPMT activity helps tailor the AZA/MP doses