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Systemic use of non‐biologics in orofacial diseases: 2. Purine synthesis inhibitors
Author(s) -
Georgakopoulou EA,
Scully C
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
oral diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.953
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1601-0825
pISSN - 1354-523X
DOI - 10.1111/odi.12158
Subject(s) - medicine , purine analogue , azathioprine , adverse effect , mucocutaneous zone , immunosuppression , calcineurin , dermatology , disease , pharmacology , immunology , intensive care medicine , purine , transplantation , biochemistry , chemistry , enzyme
Systemic non‐biological agents ( NBA s) have been extensively used for immunosuppression in clinical medicine, often with considerable efficacy, although sometimes accompanied with adverse effects as with all medicines. With the advent of biological agents, all of which currently are restricted to systemic use, there is a rising need to identify which agents have the better therapeutic ratio. The NBA s include a range of agents, most especially the corticosteroids (corticosteroids). This article reviews the purine synthesis inhibitors (azathioprine and mycophenolate), which are currently the most commonly used systemically immunosuppressive agents in the management of orofacial mucocutaneous diseases. Subsequent articles discuss other corticosteroid‐sparing agents used in the management of orofacial disease, such as calcineurin inhibitors, and the cytotoxic and other immunomodulatory agents.