Azathioprine ‘Imuran

Brand names Azasan, Imuran (Azathioprine) Manufacturer Generic... 

MP as a possible inhibitor of antibody-forming cells. As a result, its derivative Imuran (azathioprine) has been used as an antirejection drug in kidney transplants. 

Auranofin (Ridaura) Azatadine (Optimine) Azathioprine (Imuran)... 

A number of thiopurines (thioguanine, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-(methylthio) purine, azathioprine (6[( l-methyl-4-nitro-5-imidazolyl)thio] purine) [12],and other derivatives of 6-mercaptopurine [377]) have all been used to successfully prolong homografts, and azathioprine (Imuran) appears to be superior in its action [268]. 

The mechanism of action of azathioprine as a cytotoxic drug is not different from the mechanism of action of other antimetabolites. Azathioprine is the primary drug used for transplants, especially for kidney transplants. Today, cyclosporine is used instead of azathioprine in many places. However, azathioprine is useful in combination with cyclosporine, and it is even preferred in certain cases. Synonyms of this drug are azumec, imuran, and others. 

Azathioprine (Imuran) Basiliximab (Simulect) Cyclosporine, oral (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf)... 

Brand Name(s) Azasan, Azathioprine Sodium, Imuran... 

Azathioprine Imuran Oral 1 mg/kg body weight per day can be increased after 6-8 wk up to maximum dose of 2.5 mg/kg body weight. Relatively high toxicity should be used cautiously in debilitated patients or patients with renal disease. 

Azathioprine (Imuran) is an immunosuppressant drug that is often used to prevent tissue rejection following organ transplants. Because of its immunosuppressant properties, this drug has been employed in treating... 

Clinical Use. Azathioprine (Imuran) is a cytotoxic agent that is structurally and functionally similar to certain anticancer drugs, such as mercaptopurine.22,30 Azathioprine is primarily used to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs, especially in patients with kidney transplants. Azathioprine may also be used to suppress immune responses in a wide range of other conditions, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, inflammatory myopathy, hepatic disease, myasthenia gravis, and ulcerative colitis. As presented in Chapter 16, azathioprine is also used as an antiarthritic disease-modifying agent. 

Azathioprine Imuran Kidney, heart, liver, pancreas Rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, myasthenia gravis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), others... 

When injected, azathioprine (Imuran) is rapidly converted to 6-mercaptopurine. The half-life of azathioprine after intravenous injection is 10 to 20 min, and that of 6-mercaptopurine is somewhat longer. The cytotoxic activity of these thiopurines is due to the conversion of mercaptopurine to 6-thiouric acid, a noncarcinostatic metabolite. This action is thought to block the excess synthesis of inosinic acid from its precursors, glutamine and phosphoribosylpyrophosphate. In addition, unlike cyclophosphamide, azathioprine is a potent anti-inflammatory substance that can cause a reduction in the number of monocytes and neutrophils at inflammatory sites. Antibody responses are also inhibited by azathioprine. Studies in humans have shown that azathioprine decreases the y-globulin and antibody levels, thus influencing IgG rather than IgM production. This makes azathioprine an effective immunosuppressant in the early phases of immune responses. It is less effective or completely ineffective in altering either the effector phase or already established reactivities. 

Do not abbreviate drug names. For example, MTX means methotrexate to some health professionals, but others understand it as mitoxantrone. AZThas been misunderstood as azathioprine (Imuran) when zidovudine (Retrovir) was intended. In one case, this misinterpretation led to a patient with AIDS receiving azathioprine, an immunosuppressant, instead of the intended antiretroviral agent. The patients immune system worsened, and he developed an overwhelming infection. In another example, an order for HCTZ50 mg (hydrochlorothiazide) was mistaken for an order for HCT 250 mg (hydrocortisone). 

The nitration of 1-alkyl- and l,2-dialkyl-5-halogenoimidazoles [151, 155, 158], which are used as intermediates in the pharmaceutical chemistry industry, has been investigated in greatest detail. For instance, the immunodepressant azathioprine ( imuran ) was obtained from l-methyl-4-nitro-5-chloroimidazole [158],... 

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