| Theme |
Role of AZA/6-MP in the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease |
| Title |
Optimum Duration of Maintenance Therapy with AZA/6-MP in Inflammatory Bowel Disease |
| Author |
Yoh Ishiguro |
Department of Endoscopy, Hirosaki Graduate School of Medicine |
| Author |
Kazufumi Yamagata |
Department of Gastroenterology, Hirosaki Graduate School of Medicine |
| Author |
Yuki Sato |
Department of Gastroenterology, Hirosaki Graduate School of Medicine |
| Author |
Hirotake Sakuraba |
Department of Gastroenterology, Hirosaki Graduate School of Medicine |
| Author |
Shinsaku Fukuda |
Department of Gastroenterology, Hirosaki Graduate School of Medicine |
| Author |
Akihiro Munakata |
Department of Endoscopy, Hirosaki Graduate School of Medicine / Department of Gastroenterology, Hirosaki Graduate School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] |
The long term effects of immune suppressive reagents, for IBD maintenance therapy are reviewed. Most uncontrolled as well as controlled studies have revealed the long term efficacy of 6-MP and AZA in maintenance therapy for IBD, over 2 to 5 year periods. 6-MP and AZA were also effective for SH dependent patients and may have steroid sparing effects. For SH refractory cases, CsA combined with 6-MP / AZA was a well established therapy for induction and maintainance of states of remission. In CD, SH sparing effects and maintainance of remissive states also suggested. Therefore, long term treatment would be a better choice to avoid IBD relapse. However, relapse rates may gradually increase over time, as seen in most studies. Long term, large randamized controlled trials of more effective single or combined therapies to avoid relapse are needed. |