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A controlled trial of azathioprine in Crohn's disease

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The American Journal of Digestive Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To determine the efficacy of azathioprine in the treatment of Crohn's disease, a 26-week double-blind trial was performed. 20 patients with Crohn's disease, requiring at least 10 mg of prednisone/day over the 3 months prior to entering the study were randomized into placebo (10 patients) and azathioprine (10 patients) treatment groups. Reduction of steroids was the major criterion of success in the trial. There were 7 relapses in the placebo group (5 patients) and 2 relapses in the azathioprine group (2 patients). Complications including fistulae were not affected by the medications. The mean reduction in steroid dosage in the azathioprine group at the end of the trial (−15.5 mg) was greater than in the placebo group (−6.1 mg). These results suggest that azathioprine may permit reduction or discontinuation of steroids without the worsening of symptoms in some patients who appear to require steroids for control of their symptoms. The clinical features of this “AZA-responsive subgroup” remain to be defined.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, 950 East 59 Street, 60637, Chicago, Illinois

    James L. Rosenberg MD, Bernard Levin MD, Alfred J. Wall MD & Joseph B. Kirsner MD, PhD, FACP

Authors
  1. James L. Rosenberg MD
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  2. Bernard Levin MD
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  3. Alfred J. Wall MD
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  4. Joseph B. Kirsner MD, PhD, FACP
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Supported by a grant from the Gastrointestinal Research Foundation of Chicago and the L. Sinton Fund.

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Rosenberg, J.L., Levin, B., Wall, A.J. et al. A controlled trial of azathioprine in Crohn's disease. Digest Dis Sci 20, 721–726 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01070829

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