6-methylmercaptopurine-induced leukocytopenia during thiopurine therapy in inflammatory bowel disease patients. 2017

Berrie Meijer, and Joany E Kreijne, and Sofia A W van Moorsel, and Luc J J Derijks, and Gerd Bouma, and Chris J J Mulder, and Dennis R Wong, and C Janneke van der Woude, and Adriaan A van Bodegraven, and Nanne K H de Boer
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE Thiopurines have a favorable benefit-risk ratio in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. A feared adverse event of thiopurine therapy is myelotoxicity, mostly occurring due to toxic concentrations of the pharmacologically active metabolites 6-thioguaninenucleotides. In oncology, myelosuppression has also been associated with elevated 6-methylmercaptopurine (6-MMP). In this case series, we provide a detailed overview of 6-MMP-induced myelotoxicity in inflammatory bowel disease patients. METHODS We retrospectively scrutinized pharmacological laboratory databases of five participating centers over a 5-year period. Patients with leukocytopenia at time of elevated 6-MMP levels (>5700 pmol/8 × 108 red blood cells) were included for detailed chart review. RESULTS In this case series, we describe demographic, clinical, and pharmacological aspects of 24 cases of 6-MMP-induced myelotoxicity on weight-based thiopurine therapy with a median steady-state 6-MMP level of 14 500 pmol/8 × 108 red blood cells (range 6600-48 000). All patients developed leukocytopenia (white blood cell count 2.7 ± 0.9 × 109 /L) after a median period of 11 weeks after initiation of thiopurine therapy (interquartile range 6-46 weeks). Eighteen patients (75%) developed concurrent anemia (median hemoglobin concentration 6.9 × 109 /L), and four patients developed concurrent thrombocytopenia (median platelet count 104 × 109 /L). Leukocytopenia resolved in 20 patients (83%) within 4 weeks upon altered thiopurine treatment regimen, and white blood cell count was increasing, but not yet normalized, in the remaining four patients. CONCLUSIONS We observed that thiopurine-induced myelotoxicity also occurs because of (extremely) high 6-MMP concentrations in patients with a skewed thiopurine metabolism. Continued treatment with adapted thiopurine therapy was successful in almost all patients.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007970 Leukopenia A decrease in the number of LEUKOCYTES in a blood sample below the normal range (LEUKOCYTE COUNT less than 4000). Leukocytopenia,Leukocytopenias,Leukopenias
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011686 Purine-Pyrimidine Metabolism, Inborn Errors Dysfunctions in the metabolism of PURINES or PYRIMIDINES resulting from inborn genetic mutations that are inherited or acquired in utero. Purine Pyrimidine Metabolism, Inborn Errors
D004342 Drug Hypersensitivity Immunologically mediated adverse reactions to medicinal substances used legally or illegally. Allergy, Drug,Hypersensitivity, Drug,Drug Allergy,Allergies, Drug,Drug Allergies,Drug Hypersensitivities,Hypersensitivities, Drug
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D012189 Retrospective Studies Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons. Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective
D013997 Time Factors Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations. Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D015122 Mercaptopurine An antimetabolite antineoplastic agent with immunosuppressant properties. It interferes with nucleic acid synthesis by inhibiting purine metabolism and is used, usually in combination with other drugs, in the treatment of or in remission maintenance programs for leukemia. 6-Mercaptopurine,1,7-Dihydro-6H-purine-6-thione,6-Mercaptopurine Monohydrate,6-Thiohypoxanthine,6-Thiopurine,6H-Purine-6-thione, 1,7-dihydro-,BW 57-323H,Leupurin,Mecaptopurine Anhydrous,Mercaptopurina Wellcome,Puri-Nethol,Purimethol,Purinethol,6 Mercaptopurine,6 Mercaptopurine Monohydrate,6 Thiohypoxanthine,6 Thiopurine,BW 57 323H,BW 57323H

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