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Azathioprine treatment photosensitizes human skin to ultraviolet A radiation.
- Source :
-
The British journal of dermatology [Br J Dermatol] 2008 Jul; Vol. 159 (1), pp. 198-204. Date of Electronic Publication: 2008 May 16. - Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- Background: Azathioprine is used to treat a variety of conditions and to prevent graft rejection in organ transplant recipients (OTRs).<br />Objectives: To investigate clinically our previous finding that azathioprine metabolites interact with ultraviolet (UV) A radiation to form promutagenic oxidative DNA damage and to determine whether this may be causal or contributory to the development of excess skin cancers post-transplantation.<br />Methods: The clinical corollary of these data were investigated. Five patients were recruited and the minimal erythema dose (MED) for UVB, UVA and solar-simulated radiation (SSR) was determined for each person before, and at least 12 weeks after, starting azathioprine therapy.<br />Results: In all five patients azathioprine treatment was associated with an increased UVA and SSR sensitivity of the skin and a significant reduction in MEDs for UVA and SSR. We found no change in UVB-induced erythema or MED. In addition, we found that DNA from the skin of patients on azathioprine contains 6-thioguanine (6-TG).<br />Conclusions: Our findings confirm the presence of DNA 6-TG in the skin of those taking therapeutic doses of azathioprine and provide support for the hypothesis that DNA damage occurs when DNA 6-TG interacts with UVA, resulting in abnormal cutaneous photosensitivity.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Case-Control Studies
Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
Epidermis radiation effects
Female
Graft Rejection drug therapy
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Thioguanine adverse effects
Treatment Outcome
Azathioprine adverse effects
DNA Damage
Immunosuppressive Agents adverse effects
Photosensitivity Disorders chemically induced
Skin Neoplasms etiology
Ultraviolet Therapy adverse effects
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1365-2133
- Volume :
- 159
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The British journal of dermatology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 18489587
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08610.x