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Randomised clinical trial: efficacy, safety and dosage of adjunctive allopurinol in azathioprine/mercaptopurine nonresponders ( AAA Study)
Author(s) -
Friedman A. B.,
Brown S. J.,
Bampton P.,
Barclay M. L.,
Chung A.,
Macrae F. A.,
McKenzie J.,
Reynolds J.,
Gibson P. R.,
Hanauer S. B.,
Sparrow M. P.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1111/apt.14571
Subject(s) - medicine , thiopurine methyltransferase , allopurinol , gastroenterology , azathioprine , mercaptopurine , clinical endpoint , leukopenia , pharmacology , surgery , clinical trial , chemotherapy , disease
Summary Background Thiopurine hypermethylation towards 6‐methylmercaptopurine (6 MMP ) instead of 6‐thioguanine nucleotides (6 TGN ) is associated with inefficacy in patients with IBD. Allopurinol reverses such hypermethylation. Aims To prospectively determine efficacy of allopurinol‐thiopurine combination and to compare 2 doses of allopurinol. Design In a multicentre, double‐blind trial, patients with clinically active or steroid‐dependent IBD and thiopurine shunting were randomised to 50 or 100 mg/d allopurinol and 25% of their screening thiopurine dose, which was subsequently optimised, aiming for 6 TGN of 260‐500 pmol/8x10 8 RBC s. The primary endpoint was steroid‐free clinical remission at 24 weeks. Results Of 73 patients, 39 (53% [95% CI 42‐65]) achieved steroid‐free remission, (54% with 50 mg/d and 53% with 100 mg/d). 81% were able to discontinue steroids. Therapeutic 6 TGN levels were achieved in both groups. Final thiopurine doses were lower with 100 mg/d allopurinol ( P < 0.005). 6 MMP : 6 TGN ratio decreased from mean 64 to 4 ( P < 0.001), being higher with 50 mg/d (6 ± 1.83) than for 100 mg/d ([1 ± 0.16], P = 0.003). Three patients on 50 mg/d failed to sustain low ratios at 24 weeks. Toxicity was minimal; three patients on 50 mg/d allopurinol developed transient leukopenia. Alanine aminotransferase concentrations decreased ( P < 0.001) similarly in both arms. Faecal calprotectin levels at study end were lower in patients who achieved the primary endpoint (median 171 [85‐541] vs 821[110‐5892] ug/g, P = 0.03). Conclusions Low‐dose allopurinol‐thiopurine combination safely reverses shunting and optimises 6 TGN with associated improvement in disease activity. 100 mg/d allopurinol is preferable due to greater metabolite profile stability and lower thiopurine dose without additional toxicity.