[Azathioprine ingestion with suicidal intent by an adolescent with chronic juvenile polyarthritis]

We report on a 13 years 7 months old boy who ingested 650 mg azathioprine in a suicide attempt. His baseline medication was azathioprine and methotrexate for control of juvenile chronic polyarthritis. After the induction of vomiting by ipecacuanha sirup and administration of charcoal (1 g/kg), he was closely followed for haematological, hepatic, and renal side effects. During the following days, no serious adverse events were noted except that the thrombocyte (from 403,000 down to 199,000/microliter) and total leukocyte count decreased moderately (from 12,000 down to 7100/microliter). On the basis of this case report and the available literature, the potential acute toxicity of azathioprine and possible treatment modalities are discussed.