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Variability in the rate of 6-mercaptopurine methylation in the erythrocytes, liver and kidney in an Italian population

  • PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND PRESCRIPTION
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Abstract

Objective. The polymorphism of erythrocyte thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) is genetically regulated as an autosomal codominant trait, and so should be congenital.

Results.

We tested this hypothesis by measuring TPMT activity in erythrocyte preparations from adults and newborns and observed polymorphic distribution of TPMT activity in the adult and newborn erythrocytes. The activity of TPMT was higher in red cells from the newborns than adults. The frequency distribution of TPMT activity was also investigated in the liver and kidney. In the kidney, TPMT activity fell into two subgroups, whereas in the liver the distribution pattern was more complex. The activity of TPMT in erythrocytes and liver from the same subject was correlated, but the values of only half the cases fell within the 95% confidence limits, suggesting that the control of hepatic and/or erythrocyte TPMT is multifactorial.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedicine, Medical School, Via Roma 55, I-56126 Pisa, , , , , , XX

    M. A. Ferroni, G. Marchi & G.-M. Pacifici

  2. Department of Surgical Pathology, Cisanello Hospital, I-56124 Cisanello, Pisa, University of Pisa, , , , , , XX

    P. C. Giulianotti, A. Pietrabissa & F. Mosca

  3. Division of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Hospital of Pisa, Via Roma 67, I-56126 Pisa, Italy, , , , , , IT

    E. Sansone & P. Romeo

Authors
  1. M. A. Ferroni
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  2. G. Marchi
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  3. E. Sansone
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  4. P. Romeo
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  5. P. C. Giulianotti
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  6. A. Pietrabissa
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  7. F. Mosca
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  8. G.-M. Pacifici
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Additional information

Received: 27 July 1995/Accepted in revised form: 5 February 1996

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Ferroni, M., Marchi, G., Sansone, E. et al. Variability in the rate of 6-mercaptopurine methylation in the erythrocytes, liver and kidney in an Italian population. E J Clin Pharmacol 51, 23–29 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002280050155

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002280050155

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