Premium
Azathioprine treatment photosensitizes human skin to ultraviolet A radiation
Author(s) -
Perrett C.M.,
Walker S.L.,
O’Donovan P.,
Warwick J.,
Harwood C.A.,
Karran P.,
McGregor J.M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08610.x
Subject(s) - dermatology , azathioprine , medicine , ultraviolet radiation , human skin , biology , chemistry , genetics , disease , radiochemistry
Summary Background Azathioprine is used to treat a variety of conditions and to prevent graft rejection in organ transplant recipients (OTRs). Objectives To investigate clinically our previous finding that azathioprine metabolites interact with ultraviolet (UV) A radiation to form promutagenic oxidative DNA damage and to determine whether this may be causal or contributory to the development of excess skin cancers post‐transplantation. Methods The clinical corollary of these data were investigated. Five patients were recruited and the minimal erythema dose (MED) for UVB, UVA and solar‐simulated radiation (SSR) was determined for each person before, and at least 12 weeks after, starting azathioprine therapy. Results In all five patients azathioprine treatment was associated with an increased UVA and SSR sensitivity of the skin and a significant reduction in MEDs for UVA and SSR. We found no change in UVB‐induced erythema or MED. In addition, we found that DNA from the skin of patients on azathioprine contains 6‐thioguanine (6‐TG). Conclusions Our findings confirm the presence of DNA 6‐TG in the skin of those taking therapeutic doses of azathioprine and provide support for the hypothesis that DNA damage occurs when DNA 6‐TG interacts with UVA, resulting in abnormal cutaneous photosensitivity.