azathioprine in multiple sclerosis

Last reviewed 01/2018

Azathioptine therapy in multiple sclerosis:

• azathioprine therapy in multiple sclerosis may have similar efficacy to beta-interferon but initial trial evidence seemed less conclusive (1,2)
  
  
• however a meta-analysis concluded that azathioprine probably does attenuate relapsing remitting MS (3)

Reference:

• 1) Yudkin PL, Ellison GW, Ghezzi A, Goodkin DE, Hughes RA, McPherson K, Mertin J, Milanese C. Overview of azathioprine treatment in multiple sclerosis. Lancet 1991 Oct 26;338(8774):1051-5
• 2) Palace J, Rothwell P. New treatments and azathioprine in multiple sclerosis.Lancet 1997 Jul 26;350(9073):261.
• 3) Casetta I, Iuliano G, Filippini G. Azathioprine for multiple sclerosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007:CD003982.