6-Mercaptopurine Or Azathioprine? by McGovern, D, Travis, S

Infliximab and azathioprine: bridge or parachute? by Travis, S

Maintenance treatment with azathioprine in ulcerative colitis: outcome and predictive factors after drug withdrawal. by Cassinotti, A, Actis, G, Duca, P, Massari, A, Colombo, E, Gai, E, Annese, V, D'Albasio, G, Manes, G, Travis, S, Porro, G, Ardizzone, S

“… OBJECTIVES: Whether the duration of maintenance treatment with azathioprine (AZA) affects the outcome of ulcerative colitis (UC) is unclear. …”

Oral methotrexate in ulcerative colitis. by Cummings, JR, Herrlinger, K, Travis, S, Gorard, D, McIntyre, A, Jewell, D

“…Indications for methotrexate in ulcerative colitis alone were azathioprine intolerance (31 of 42) and lack of benefit from azathioprine (11 of 42). …”

Effect of tight control management on Crohn's disease (CALM): a multicentre, randomised, controlled phase 3 trial. by Colombel, J, Panaccione, R, Bossuyt, P, Lukas, M, Baert, F, Vanasek, T, Danalioglu, A, Novacek, G, Armuzzi, A, Hébuterne, X, Travis, S, Danese, S, Reinisch, W, Sandborn, W, Rutgeerts, P, Hommes, D, Schreiber, S, Neimark, E, Huang, B, Zhou, Q, Mendez, P, Petersson, J, Wallace, K, Robinson, A, Thakkar, R, D'Haens, G

“…De-escalation was possible for adalimumab EW±azathioprine if failure criteria were not met. The primary endpoint of mucosal healing (CDEIS<4) with absence of deep ulcers was assessed 48 weeks post-randomisation.…”

Mucosal healing in inflammatory bowel diseases: a systematic review. by Neurath, M, Travis, S

“…In this systematic review, the clinical studies on mucosal healing are summarised and the effects of anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive drugs such as 5-aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, azathioprine, ciclosporin and anti-TNF antibodies (adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, infliximab) on mucosal healing are discussed. …”

How to manage the infectious risk under anti-TNF in inflammatory bowel disease. by Culver, E, Travis, S

“…It remains unclear whether the risk of infection from anti-TNF therapy is any different from conventional immunomodulators such as azathioprine or methotrexate, although it appears to be less than that ascribed to corticosteroids. …”

Conventional medical management of inflammatory bowel disease. by Burger, D, Travis, S

“…Common mistakes in conventional therapy include overprescription of mesalamine for CD; inappropriate use of steroids (for perianal CD, when there is sepsis, or for maintenance); delayed introduction or underdosing with azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, or methotrexate; and failure to consider timely surgery. …”

The efficacy of methotrexate for maintaining remission in inflammatory bowel disease. by Fraser, A, Morton, D, McGovern, D, Travis, S, Jewell, D

“…BACKGROUND: The management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease who are resistant to or intolerant of azathioprine remains a challenge. Low-dose methotrexate has been shown to be effective in inducing remission in Crohn's disease. …”

Systematic review: does concurrent therapy with 5-ASA and immunomodulators in inflammatory bowel disease improve outcomes? by Andrews, J, Travis, S, Gibson, P, Gasche, C

“…METHODS: Systematic review with search terms 'azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, thiopurine(s), 5 aminosalicylic acid, mesalazine, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, immunosuppressant(s), immunomodulator and methotrexate' in November 2007 to identify clinical trials on concurrent 5-ASA and immunomodulator therapy. …”

Long-term outcome after admission for acute severe ulcerative colitis in Oxford: the 1992-1993 cohort. by Bojic, D, Radojicic, Z, Nedeljkovic-Protic, M, Al-Ali, M, Jewell, D, Travis, S

“…CONCLUSIONS: One week after admission with ASC in the prebiologic era, IRs had a 50% chance of colectomy within a year and 70% within 5 years, despite cyclosporin and azathioprine where appropriate. The maximum duration of remission in CRs was almost 5 times longer than IRs. …”

Review article: the management of mild to severe acute ulcerative colitis. by Travis, S

“…Steroids have no place in the maintenance of remission. Indications for azathioprine include patients after a severe relapse of ulcerative colitis, those with early relapse after steroids (dose of < 15 mg/day, or within 6 weeks of stopping) and those needing a second course of steroids within a year. …”

An economic evaluation comparing concomitant oral and topical mesalazine versus oral mesalazine alone in mild-to-moderately active ulcerative colitis based on results from randomis... by Connolly, M, Nielsen, S, Currie, C, Marteau, P, Probert, C, Travis, S

“…We have also shown that irrespective of which treatment modality is used in steroid-refractory patients (eg, infliximab, azathioprine, ciclosporine) that topical mesalazine is cost-saving.…”