Association Between Thiopurine S-Methyltransferase (TPMT) Genetic Variants and Infection in Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients Treated With Azathioprine: A Multi-Institutional Analysis.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:Bone marrow suppression is a common adverse effect of the immunosuppressive drug azathioprine. Polymorphisms in the gene encoding thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) can alter the metabolism of azathioprine, resulting in marrow toxicity and life-threatening infection. In a multicenter cohort of pediatric heart transplant (HT) recipients, we determined the frequency of TPMT genetic variation and assessed whether azathioprine-treated recipients with TPMT variants were at increased risk of infection. METHODS:We genotyped TPMT in 264 pediatric HT recipients for the presence of the TPMT*2, TPMT*3A, and TPMT*3C variant alleles. Data on infection episodes and azathioprine use were collected as part of each patient's participation in the Pediatric Heart Transplant Study. We performed

SUBMITTER: Green DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5916437 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar-Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature