Volume 18, Issue 1 pp. 63-73
Original Article

Hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase activity is related to 6-thioguanine nucleotide concentrations and thiopurine-induced leukopenia in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Liang Ding PhD

Liang Ding PhD

Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

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Fang-bin Zhang MD

Fang-bin Zhang MD

Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

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Hui Liu MS

Hui Liu MS

Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

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Xiang Gao MD

Xiang Gao MD

Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

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Hui-chang Bi PhD

Hui-chang Bi PhD

Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

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Xue-ding Wang PhD

Xue-ding Wang PhD

Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

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Bai-li Chen MD

Bai-li Chen MD

Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

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Yu Zhang PhD

Yu Zhang PhD

Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

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Li-zi Zhao PhD

Li-zi Zhao PhD

Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

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Guo-ping Zhong PhD

Guo-ping Zhong PhD

Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

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Pin-jin Hu MD

Pin-jin Hu MD

Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

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Min-hu Chen MD

Min-hu Chen MD

Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

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Ming Huang PhD

Corresponding Author

Ming Huang PhD

Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 132 East Circle at University City, Guangzhou 510006, P.R. ChinaSearch for more papers by this author
First published: 04 March 2011
Citations: 6

Abstract

Background:

Thiopurine drugs are widely used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The polymorphic enzyme thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) is of importance for thiopurine metabolism and adverse events occurrence. The role of other thiopurine-metabolizing enzymes is less well known. This study investigated the effects of TPMT and hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) activities on 6-thioguanine nucleotides (6-TGNs) concentrations and thiopurine-induced leukopenia in patients with IBD.

Methods:

Clinical data and blood samples were collected from 120 IBD patients who were receiving azathioprine (AZA)/6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) therapy. Erythrocyte TPMT, HPRT activities and 6-TGNs concentrations were determined. HPRT activity and its correlation with TPMT activity, 6-TGNs level, and leukopenia were evaluated.

Results:

The HPRT activity of all patients ranged from 1.63–3.33 (2.31 ± 0.36) μmol/min per g Hb. HPRT activity was significantly higher in patients with leukopenia (27, 22.5%) than without (P < 0.001). A positive correlation between HPRT activity and 6-TGNs concentration was found in patients with leukopenia (r = 0.526, P = 0.005). Patients with HPRT activity > 2.70 μmol/min per g Hb could have an increased risk of developing leukopenia (odds ratio = 7.47, P < 0.001). No correlation was observed between TPMT activity and HPRT activity, 6-TGNs concentration, or leukopenia.

Conclusions:

High levels of HPRT activity could be a predictor of leukopenia and unsafe 6-TGN concentrations in patients undergoing AZA/6-MP therapy. This could partly explain the therapeutic response or toxicity that could not be adequately explained by the polymorphisms of TPMT. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;)

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