Should azathioprine and 5-aminosalicylates be coprescribed in inflammatory bowel disease?: an audit of adverse events and outcome

BACKGROUND: An interaction between azathioprine and 5-aminosalicylates may exist, but the mechanism remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the occurrence of adverse events and efficacy of azathioprine with or without mesalazine. METHOD: Retrospective study of 199 patients. In all, 95 patients received azathioprine alone (monotherapy); 104 received combination of 5-aminosalicylates and azathioprine (dual therapy). Data were recorded on adverse events, azathioprine dose and thiopurine methyl transferase (TPMT) level. In 85 of the patients, relapse rate was compared in the two groups. RESULTS: Adverse events were more common in dual therapy group, 50/104, than in monotherapy group, 29/95; chi=6.4, P=0.05. Most patients had normal TPMT activity. No relationship between TPMT activity and adverse events was observed. A total of 105 patients took (>/=2 mg/kg) azathioprine; adverse events occurred in 26% compared with 54% taking less than 2 mg/kg (chi=15.8, P