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Azathioprine
About Azathioprine
One of the first immunosuppressants for organ transplantation. Azathioprine or Imuran prevents organ rejection and treats autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. It is converted to 6 mercaptopurine in the body, which inhibits DNA synthesis in immune cells. Azathioprine was crucial to early transplant success before cyclosporine. Patients with TPMT deficiency are at risk for severe bone marrow suppression, and TPMT testing is commonly performed before treatment.
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