Thiopurine S-methyltransferase levels may predict azathioprine toxicity in Behçet’s disease

Low levels of thiopurine S-methyltransferase may be predictive of adverse events caused by azathioprine toxicity in patients with Behçet’s disease, according to study findings.Researchers studied 101 patients with Behçet’s disease (BD), 74 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 44 patients with various systemic vasculitis and 101 healthy control participants matched to the patients with BD for age and sex. In each disease group, some of the patients received azathioprine at the time of or prior to the study whereas others did not.