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Posted 9/7/2022 11:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

My son has to start Azathioprine, currently on steroids (short course).

His calprotectin was 1800. He is otherwise well, but weight had remained static for 1 year. Height still good though.

I have also asked about the more powerful enemas (thanks Quincy for this suggestion).

Reason for the post, worried about Azathioprine. Read this rare chance of cancer, even more so in males! Daunting as a parent.

Saying this, also hear of many success stories on this drug.

I guess I am looking for some positivity, feeling a bit down again with it all. But showing strength for my son, who just gets on with things.
Posted 9/7/2022 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
Aza has been a very good drug for lots of us on this site. Sometimes it is used in conjunction with a biologic. It's side effects are more systemic than other biologics and it is noted to double the risk of lymphoma...however this means over a lifetime the risk moves from 1 in 750 to 2 in 750.....2 in 750 is still a small number and as my GI said to me at the time..."you have to live your life"....it is also true that the relative risk of cancer on Aza is highest for younger males....but this remains a small number...the highest absolute risk with Aza is for males over 65 and at that stage the drug is often withdrawn
Posted 9/7/2022 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Just curious why the dr decided on aza rather than a biologic

I have no experience with Aza so can’t help with that. Just wanted to say that as a mom I so feel for you. Thank goodness neither of my sons had a serious illness. There’s so many other things to worry about when raising kids I can’t imagine adding a serious sometimes debilitating illness to it. I admire your strength! 🤗
Posted 9/7/2022 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
You could request to try the higher dosage enema regimen first before the Aza.
Many may think that archaic...but it's an option he hasn't done yet. I'm considering his age and his excellent compliance 😊

q
Posted 9/7/2022 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
In the UK they will try azathioprine before biologics because it is cheaper. This is non negotiable because of the way the health service works.
Posted 9/12/2022 12:45 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on Aza for 4 years, it started to lose its magic a year or so ago so they added Humira back in April. I'm now on both Aza and Humira.

Reason being that apparently it's better to stay on Aza for a while on the biologic to avoid generating antibodies as quickly.

In any case my calprotectin seems to be increasing again even being on both so we'll see what happens next.

1Wish
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