Title:Imputability of Azathioprine in the Occurrence of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
in Crohn's Disease: An Exceptional Case Report
Volume: 18
Issue: 4
Author(s): Yosra Zaimi*, Chayma Bouksir, Shema Ayadi, Myriam Ayari and Feryal Letaief Ksontini
Affiliation:
- Department of Gastroenterology, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia
Keywords:
Crohn’s disease, thiopurines, immunomodulators, AML, NM, CML.
Abstract:
Background: Patients with Cohn’s disease (CD) treated with thiopurines are at an increased
risk of developing cancer. Leukemias are less frequent than other hematopoietic tumors and the
development of Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) after immunosuppression has not been proven.
Case Report: We describe the case of a 61-year-old female who developed a CML after 8 years of
treatment with azathioprine (AZA) for ileal Crohn’s disease associated with a duodenal localization.
We reviewed the current evidence on the interactions between CD, CML and AZA as well as
the potential underlying mechanisms of leukemia in AZA-treated patients.
Conclusion: We concluded that the pathogenesis of CML is multifactorial in CD. The nature of the
association between AZA and CML in CD patients warrants further investigation.
