Co-prescribing azathiopurine or 6-mercaptopurine and 5-aminosalicylate compounds in ulcerative colitis

A total of 254 senior consultant gastroenterologists with valid e-mail addresses were identified from the membership list of the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) 2007.

They were sent by e-mail a questionnaire which dealt with aspects of clinical practice and addressed cancer prevention in ulcerative colitis (UC). Replies were received from 97 clinicians (38% response rate).

Ninety-one (94%) advised patients with established UC to take 5-aminosalicylate (5-ASA) compounds for life. Seventy-two of the 91 (79%) clinicians co-prescribed 5-ASA compounds with immune modulators for patients with UC. Only 3 clinicians advised patients to take folic acid as a daily supplement. A median of 20% (interquartile range 10%-50%) of their patients with UC were co-prescribed a 5-ASA compound and azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine. Of these, a median of 3.5% (interquartile 1%-5%) developed neutropenia.

Future research needs to be directed at the long-term maintenance treatment and to address questions about which drugs should be used, in what combinations, and with what frequencies.