AJP Rep 2013; 03(01): 025-028
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1329683
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Utility of Maternal 6-Thioguanine Nucleotide Levels in Predicting Neonatal Pancytopenia

Hidehiko Maruyama
1   Department of Neonatology, National Hospital Organization, Okayama Medical Center, Okayama, Japan
,
Katsuhiko Tada
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Hospital Organization, Okayama Medical Center, Okayama, Japan
,
Takuzo Fujiwara
3   Department of Surgery, National Hospital Organization, Okayama Medical Center, Okayama, Japan
,
Kosuke Ota
4   Department of Nephrology, National Hospital Organization, Okayama Medical Center, Okayama, Japan
,
Misao Kageyama
1   Department of Neonatology, National Hospital Organization, Okayama Medical Center, Okayama, Japan
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

24 May 2012

27 July 2012

Publication Date:
03 December 2012 (online)

Abstract

An infant with pancytopenia was born to a mother who used the common immunosuppressant azathioprine (AZA). Maternal and neonatal blood levels of 6-thioguanine nucleotides (6TGN; metabolite of AZA) were 1890 and 1480 pmol/8 × 108 red blood cells, respectively. Maternal 6TGN levels could be useful in predicting neonatal pancytopenia.

 
  • References

  • 1 DeWitte DB, Buick MK, Cyran SE, Maisels MJ. Neonatal pancytopenia and severe combined immunodeficiency associated with antenatal administration of azathioprine and prednisone. J Pediatr 1984; 105: 625-628
  • 2 Armenti VT, Moritz MJ, Davison JM. Drug safety issues in pregnancy following transplantation and immunosuppression: effects and outcomes. Drug Saf 1998; 19: 219-232
  • 3 Tidd DM, Paterson AR. A biochemical mechanism for the delayed cytotoxic reaction of 6-mercaptopurine. Cancer Res 1974; 34: 738-746
  • 4 Lennard L. The clinical pharmacology of 6-mercaptopurine. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1992; 43: 329-339
  • 5 Nguyen CM, Mendes MA, Ma JD. Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) genotyping to predict myelosuppression risk. PLoS Curr 2011; 3: RRN1236
  • 6 Hanai H, Iida T, Takeuchi K , et al. Thiopurine maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis: the clinical significance of monitoring 6-thioguanine nucleotide. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2010; 16: 1376-1381
  • 7 Bergan S. Optimisation of azathioprine immunosuppression after organ transplantation by pharmacological measurements. BioDrugs 1997; 8: 446-456
  • 8 Gardiner SJ, Gearry RB, Roberts RL, Zhang M, Barclay ML, Begg EJ. Exposure to thiopurine drugs through breast milk is low based on metabolite concentrations in mother-infant pairs. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2006; 62: 453-456
  • 9 Schmiegelow K, Kriegbaum NJ. 6-Thioguanine nucleotide accumulation in erythrocytes during azathioprine treatment for systemic connective tissue diseases: a possible index for monitoring treatment. Ann Rheum Dis 1993; 52: 152-154
  • 10 Lennard L, Harrington CI, Wood M, Maddocks JL. Metabolism of azathioprine to 6-thioguanine nucleotides in patients with pemphigus vulgaris. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1987; 23: 229-233