{"id":{"repo_id":"utmb","oai_identifier":"oai:utmb-ir.tdl.org:2152.3/273"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/utmb/oai:utmb-ir.tdl.org:2152.3/273","repository":{"repo_id":"utmb","name":"University of Texas Medical Branch","base_url":"https://utmb-ir.tdl.org/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Lymphocytopenia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease on immunosuppressive medications","abstract":"Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine (AZA/6MP) are effective immunosuppressives commonly used for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The mercaptopurine metabolites, 6-thioguanine (6TG) and 6-methylmercaptopurine ribonucleotides (6MMP), have been suggested as surrogate markers of the safety and efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy. Elevated levels of 6TG have been found to be associated with bone marrow toxicity manifest as leukopenia. Elevated 6-MMP levels have been associated with hepatotoxicity. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of lymphocytopenia with immunosuppressive use, to correlate metabolite levels (6TG and 6MMP) with leukocyte (WBC), lymphocyte, mean corpuscle volume (MCV) levels in IBD patients treated with AZA/6MP, and secondarily to evaluate clinical status with these blood markers.\\r\\nMedical records of adult IBD patients taking either azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine were analyzed based on blood counts, mercaptopurine metabolites 6TG and 6MMP, and clinical status. Eighty three percent of the patients taking AZA/6MP developed lymphocytopenia. Of those with lymphocytopenia, only 12% had low WBC counts. A low correlation of r = -0.3 (p=0.04) for 6TG to WBC counts as well as to MCV levels was found. No correlation between 6TG levels and lymphocyte counts were noted. Clinical activity to any blood markers showed no significant correlation.\\r\\nThis analysis shows that lymphocyte counts and not leukocyte counts should be monitored closely in patients on these immunosuppressives, and that metabolite markers do not provide information regarding who will develop lymphocytopenia. Blood markers cannot be used as a marker for disease activity although further detailed studies will need to be done. Consequences of lymphocytopenia such as opportunistic infections need to be discussed with patients prior to starting this type of therapy. \\r\\n","abstract_html":"Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine (AZA/6MP) are effective immunosuppressives commonly used for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The mercaptopurine metabolites, 6-thioguanine (6TG) and 6-methylmercaptopurine ribonucleotides (6MMP), have been suggested as surrogate markers of the safety and efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy. Elevated levels of 6TG have been found to be associated with bone marrow toxicity manifest as leukopenia. Elevated 6-MMP levels have been associated with hepatotoxicity. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of lymphocytopenia with immunosuppressive use, to correlate metabolite levels (6TG and 6MMP) with leukocyte (WBC), lymphocyte, mean corpuscle volume (MCV) levels in IBD patients treated with AZA/6MP, and secondarily to evaluate clinical status with these blood markers.\\r\\nMedical records of adult IBD patients taking either azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine were analyzed based on blood counts, mercaptopurine metabolites 6TG and 6MMP, and clinical status. Eighty three percent of the patients taking AZA/6MP developed lymphocytopenia. Of those with lymphocytopenia, only 12% had low WBC counts. A low correlation of r = -0.3 (p=0.04) for 6TG to WBC counts as well as to MCV levels was found. No correlation between 6TG levels and lymphocyte counts were noted. Clinical activity to any blood markers showed no significant correlation.\\r\\nThis analysis shows that lymphocyte counts and not leukocyte counts should be monitored closely in patients on these immunosuppressives, and that metabolite markers do not provide information regarding who will develop lymphocytopenia. Blood markers cannot be used as a marker for disease activity although further detailed studies will need to be done. Consequences of lymphocytopenia such as opportunistic infections need to be discussed with patients prior to starting this type of therapy. \\r\\n","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Bincy Paulose Abraham"],"institution":"The University of Texas Medical Branch","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"Master","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":["Karen Szauter, MD","Joseph Sellin, MD","Don Powell, MD"],"year":2007,"date_issued":"2007-11-16","date_published":"2007-11-16","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:51:10Z","subjects":["lymphocytopenia","inflammatory bowel disease","immunosuppression","azathioprine","6-mercaptopurine"],"languages":["eng"],"rights":["Copyright © is held by the author. Presentation of this material on the TDL web site by The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston was made possible under a limited license grant from the author who has retained all copyrights in the works."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["etd-11262007-165522"],"render_values":[{"text":"etd-11262007-165522","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/2152.3/273","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Karen Szauter, MD","Joseph Sellin, MD","Don Powell, MD"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Bincy Paulose Abraham"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2011-12-20T16:05:38Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2008-06-17","2011-12-20T16:05:38Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2007-11-16"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Master"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["The University of Texas Medical Branch"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["lymphocytopenia","inflammatory bowel disease","immunosuppression","azathioprine","6-mercaptopurine"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["eng"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright © is held by the author. Presentation of this material on the TDL web site by The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston was made possible under a limited license grant from the author who has retained all copyrights in the works."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["etd-11262007-165522"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/2152.3/273"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine (AZA/6MP) are effective immunosuppressives commonly used for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The mercaptopurine metabolites, 6-thioguanine (6TG) and 6-methylmercaptopurine ribonucleotides (6MMP), have been suggested as surrogate markers of the safety and efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy. Elevated levels of 6TG have been found to be associated with bone marrow toxicity manifest as leukopenia. Elevated 6-MMP levels have been associated with hepatotoxicity. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of lymphocytopenia with immunosuppressive use, to correlate metabolite levels (6TG and 6MMP) with leukocyte (WBC), lymphocyte, mean corpuscle volume (MCV) levels in IBD patients treated with AZA/6MP, and secondarily to evaluate clinical status with these blood markers.\\r\\nMedical records of adult IBD patients taking either azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine were analyzed based on blood counts, mercaptopurine metabolites 6TG and 6MMP, and clinical status. Eighty three percent of the patients taking AZA/6MP developed lymphocytopenia. Of those with lymphocytopenia, only 12% had low WBC counts. A low correlation of r = -0.3 (p=0.04) for 6TG to WBC counts as well as to MCV levels was found. No correlation between 6TG levels and lymphocyte counts were noted. Clinical activity to any blood markers showed no significant correlation.\\r\\nThis analysis shows that lymphocyte counts and not leukocyte counts should be monitored closely in patients on these immunosuppressives, and that metabolite markers do not provide information regarding who will develop lymphocytopenia. Blood markers cannot be used as a marker for disease activity although further detailed studies will need to be done. Consequences of lymphocytopenia such as opportunistic infections need to be discussed with patients prior to starting this type of therapy. \\r\\n"]},{"key":"dc:format.medium","label":"Dc Format Medium","values":["electronic"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Lymphocytopenia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease on immunosuppressive medications"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Karen Szauter, MD","Joseph Sellin, MD","Don Powell, MD"],"dc:creator":["Bincy Paulose Abraham"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2011-12-20T16:05:38Z"],"dc:date.available":["2008-06-17","2011-12-20T16:05:38Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2007-11-16"],"dc:description.abstract":["Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine (AZA/6MP) are effective immunosuppressives commonly used for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The mercaptopurine metabolites, 6-thioguanine (6TG) and 6-methylmercaptopurine ribonucleotides (6MMP), have been suggested as surrogate markers of the safety and efficacy of immunosuppressive therapy. Elevated levels of 6TG have been found to be associated with bone marrow toxicity manifest as leukopenia. Elevated 6-MMP levels have been associated with hepatotoxicity. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of lymphocytopenia with immunosuppressive use, to correlate metabolite levels (6TG and 6MMP) with leukocyte (WBC), lymphocyte, mean corpuscle volume (MCV) levels in IBD patients treated with AZA/6MP, and secondarily to evaluate clinical status with these blood markers.\\r\\nMedical records of adult IBD patients taking either azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine were analyzed based on blood counts, mercaptopurine metabolites 6TG and 6MMP, and clinical status. Eighty three percent of the patients taking AZA/6MP developed lymphocytopenia. Of those with lymphocytopenia, only 12% had low WBC counts. A low correlation of r = -0.3 (p=0.04) for 6TG to WBC counts as well as to MCV levels was found. No correlation between 6TG levels and lymphocyte counts were noted. Clinical activity to any blood markers showed no significant correlation.\\r\\nThis analysis shows that lymphocyte counts and not leukocyte counts should be monitored closely in patients on these immunosuppressives, and that metabolite markers do not provide information regarding who will develop lymphocytopenia. Blood markers cannot be used as a marker for disease activity although further detailed studies will need to be done. Consequences of lymphocytopenia such as opportunistic infections need to be discussed with patients prior to starting this type of therapy. \\r\\n"],"dc:format.medium":["electronic"],"dc:identifier.other":["etd-11262007-165522"],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/2152.3/273"],"dc:language.iso":["eng"],"dc:rights":["Copyright © is held by the author. Presentation of this material on the TDL web site by The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston was made possible under a limited license grant from the author who has retained all copyrights in the works."],"dc:subject":["lymphocytopenia","inflammatory bowel disease","immunosuppression","azathioprine","6-mercaptopurine"],"dc:title":["Lymphocytopenia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease on immunosuppressive medications"],"thesis:degree_level":["Master"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"],"thesis:institution_name":["The University of Texas Medical Branch"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:51:10Z"}