Evaluation of low doses of Azathioprine in reducing relapse and corticosteroid dependence in patients with Ulcerative Colitis

Background and Aim: Ulcerative Colitis is an idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease that is common in adults. Although corticosteroids are the most effective preservative treatment for Ulcerative Colitis. However, due to the dependence of these drugs and their serious complications, the use of an immunosuppressive drug or surgery should be taken seriously. Thus the aim of the study was the evaluation of the efficiency of low doses of azathioprine (AZA) in reducing relapse and corticosteroid-dependence in Ulcerative colitis patients. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 96 patients with ulcerative colitis were followed for one year. Patients who indicated by corticosteroid therapy not able to reduce the dose of corticosteroid, at second relapse was treated with 1- 1.5 mg/kg of (AZA). Demographic characteristics, the severity of disease at the beginning of the study and response to treatment, recurrence of the disease, and drug side effects during the study. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test in SPSS software. Results: At the beginning of the study, over 50% of patients had high symptoms of the disease. In the patients under study, 40 (41.7%) patients had corticosteroid dependence, all of them being treated with (AZA). Of the 96 patients during the one-year follow-up 24 patients are relapses and 72 patients did not have relapses. 97.8% of corticosteroid patients with (AZA)prescription, Corticosteroid was discontinued and only one patient did not response to AZA and was underwent surgery. Conclusion: Given the prevalence of use of corticosteroids, prescription of low doses of (AZA) can be considered as one of the effective therapies to reduce the rate of relapse of the disease and to avoid frequent use of corticosteroids.