Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1027576
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
Azathioprin bei Kollagenosen
Azathioprine in Connective Tissue DiseasesPublication History
Publication Date:
21 July 2008 (online)

Zusammenfassung
Azathioprin wird seit über 50 Jahren in der Therapie von Kollagenosen eingesetzt. Kontrollierte Studien liegen vorwiegend nur beim SLE vor. Generell kann von einem glukokortikoidsparenden Effekt ausgegangen werden (Empfehlungsgrad D). Bei der Therapie der Lupusnephritis ist die Wirksamkeit von Azathioprin als Erhaltungstherapie nach Induktion einer Remission erwiesen (Empfehlungsgrad A). Es ist auch eine Wirksamkeit von Azathioprin bei anderen Organmanifestationen anzunehmen, die Studienlage ist jedoch dünn (Empfehlungsgrad C–D). Die Wirksamkeit von Azathioprin bei Myositiden ist nicht ausreichend erwiesen (Empfehlungsgrad D). Es gibt keine sicheren Hinweise für eine Wirksamkeit von Azathioprin bei der systemischen Sklerose. Beim Sjögren-Syndrom mit extraglandulären Organmanifestationen oder Vaskulitis ist Azathioprin in Kombination mit Glukokortikoiden indiziert (Empfehlungsgrad D).
Abstract
Azathioprine has been used in the treatment of connective tissue diseases for more than 50 years. The efficacy of azathioprine has been mainly investigated in systemic lupus erythematosus. The drug is generally assumed to have a glucocorticoid-sparing effect (strength of recommendation: D). Azathioprine has proven effective in the maintenance therapy for lupus nephritis after induction of remission (strength of recommendation: A). One can also assume that the drug is effective in the treatment of other organ manifestations, but evidence from randomised controlled trials is scarce (strength of recommendation: C–D). The efficacy of azathioprine in the treatment of myositis has not been sufficiently proven (strength of recommendation: D). In addition, there is no evidence reliably demonstrating the efficacy of the drug in systemic sclerosis. Azathioprine in combination with glucocorticoids is recommended for the treatment of Sjögren’s syndrome with extraglandular manifestations or vasculitis (strength of recommendation: D).
Schlüsselwörter
Azathioprin - Lupus erythematodes - Myositis - systemische Sklerose - Sjögren-Syndrom
Key words
azathioprine - systemic lupus erythematosus - myositis - systemic sclerosis - Sjögren’s syndrome
Literatur
- 1
Blank N, Max R, Lorenz H M.
The role of DMARDs therapy in systemic sclerosis.
Rheumatology.
2006;
45
iii42-iii43
MissingFormLabel
- 2
Bunch T W.
Prednisone and azathioprine for polymyositis: long-term followup.
Arthritis Rheum.
1981;
24
45-48
MissingFormLabel
- 3
Bunch T W, Worthington J W, Combs J J. et al .
Azathioprine with prednisone for polymyositis. A controlled, clinical trial.
Ann Intern Med.
1980;
92
365-369
MissingFormLabel
- 4
Callen J P, Spencer L V, Burruss J B. et al .
Azathioprine. An effective, corticosteroid-sparing therapy for patients with recalcitrant
cutaneous lupus erythematosus or with recalcitrant cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis.
Arch Dermatol.
1991;
127
515-522
MissingFormLabel
- 5
Choy E H, Hoogendijk J E, Lecky B. et al .
Immunosuppressant and immunomodulatory treatment for dermatomyositis and polymyositis.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
2005;
CD003643
MissingFormLabel
- 6
Contreras G, Pardo V, Leclercq B. et al .
Sequential therapies for proliferative lupus nephritis.
N Engl J Med.
2004;
350
971-980
MissingFormLabel
- 7
Dheda K, Lalloo U G, Cassim B. et al .
Experience with azathioprine in systemic sclerosis associated with interstitial lung
disease.
Clin Rheumatol.
2004;
23
306-309
MissingFormLabel
- 8
Esdaile J M, Joseph L, MacKenzie T. et al .
The benefit of early treatment with immunosuppressive agents in lupus nephritis.
J Rheumatol.
1994;
21
2046-2051
MissingFormLabel
- 9
Flanc R S, Roberts M A, Strippoli G F. et al .
Treatment for lupus nephritis (review).
Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
2004;
CD002922
MissingFormLabel
- 10
Grootscholten C, Bajema I M, Florquin S. et al .
Treatment with cyclophosphamide delays the progression of chronic lesions more effectively
than does treatment with azathioprine plus methylprednisolone in patients with proliferative
lupus nephritis.
Arthritis Rheum.
2007;
56
924-937
MissingFormLabel
- 11
Grootscholten C, Ligtenberg G, Hagen E C. et al .
Azathioprine/methylprednisolone versus cyclophosphamide in proliferative lupus nephritis.
A randomized controlled trial.
Kidney Int.
2006;
70
732-742
MissingFormLabel
- 12
Houssiau F A, Vasconcelos C, D’Cruz D. et al .
Early response to immunosuppressive therapy predicts good renal outcome in lupus nephritis:
lessons from long-term followup of patients in the Euro-Lupus Nephritis Trial.
Arthritis Rheum.
2004;
50
3934-3940
MissingFormLabel
- 13
Houssiau F A, Vasconcelos C, D’Cruz D. et al .
Immunosuppressive therapy in lupus nephritis: the Euro-Lupus Nephritis Trial, a randomized
trial of low-dose versus high-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide.
Arthritis Rheum.
2002;
46
2121-2131
MissingFormLabel
- 14
Hoyles R K, Ellis R W, Wellsbury J. et al .
A multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of
corticosteroids and intravenous cyclophosphamide followed by oral azathioprine for
the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis in scleroderma.
Arthritis Rheum.
2006;
54
3962-3970
MissingFormLabel
- 15
Nadashkevich O, Davis P, Fritzler M. et al .
A randomized unblinded trial of cyclophosphamide versus azathioprine in the treatment
of systemic sclerosis.
Clin Rheumatol.
2006;
25
205-212
MissingFormLabel
- 16
Price E J, Rigby S P, Clancy U. et al .
A double blind placebo controlled trial of azathioprine in the treatment of primary
Sjogren’s syndrome.
J Rheumatol.
1998;
25
896-899
MissingFormLabel
- 17
Sharon E, Kaplan D, Diamond H S.
Exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus after withdrawal of azathioprine therapy.
N Engl J Med.
1973;
288
122-124
MissingFormLabel
- 18
Steinberg A D, Steinberg S C.
Long-term preservation of renal function in patients with lupus nephritis receiving
treatment that includes cyclophosphamide versus those treated with prednisone only.
Arthritis Rheum.
1991;
34
945-950
MissingFormLabel
- 19
Sztejnbok M, Stewart A, Diamond H. et al .
Azathioprine in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. A controlled study.
Arthritis Rheum.
1971;
14
639-645
MissingFormLabel
- 20
Villalba L, Hicks J E, Adams E M. et al .
Treatment of refractory myositis: a randomized crossover study of two new cytotoxic
regimens.
Arthritis Rheum.
1998;
41
392-399
MissingFormLabel
- 21
Werth V, Franks Jr A.
Treatment of discoid skin lesions with azathioprine.
Arch Dermatol.
1986;
122
746-747
MissingFormLabel
Prof. Dr. Falk Hiepe
Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Rheumatologie und Klinische Immunologie, Charité
Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Charitéplatz 1
10117 Berlin
Phone: ++ 49/30/4 50 51 30 12
Fax: ++ 49/30/4 50 51 39 22
Email: falk.hiepe@charite.de