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Azathioprine is a prescription immunosuppressive antimetabolite used as an adjunct to prevent kidney transplant rejection and to manage active rheumatoid arthritis. It is converted to 6-mercaptopurine and then to active thioguanine nucleotides. Oral tablets come in several strengths. Dosing differs between transplant care and rheumatoid arthritis and requires regular blood count monitoring.
read more about azathioprine ...Azathioprine is converted to 6-mercaptopurine and then to thioguanine nucleotides. These metabolites become incorporated into DNA and interfere with cellular processes involved in immune cell growth and activity. The medicine suppresses cell-mediated immune responses, which contributes to its use after kidney transplantation and in active rheumatoid arthritis.
Current U.S. labeling lists azathioprine as an adjunct for prevention of rejection in kidney transplantation and for management of active rheumatoid arthritis. The label does not establish safety and efficacy for Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis, even though postmarketing lymphoma reports have involved patients with those conditions.
Kidney transplant regimens commonly start at 3 to 5 mg per kg daily around the time of transplantation, followed by maintenance doses of 1 to 3 mg per kg daily. Rheumatoid arthritis commonly starts near 1 mg per kg daily, or 50 to 100 mg, with gradual increases up to 2.5 mg per kg daily when needed.
Azathioprine carries a boxed warning for malignancy linked to chronic immunosuppression. Other serious risks include severe bone marrow suppression, low white blood cells, low platelets, anemia, serious infections, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, liver injury, and fetal harm. Reduced TPMT or NUDT15 activity raises the risk of life-threatening myelosuppression. Complete blood counts are checked regularly.
Yes. Azathioprine suppresses immune activity and is used after kidney transplantation and for active rheumatoid arthritis.
Yes. Complete blood counts are checked frequently during early treatment and at regular intervals afterward.
Reduced TPMT or NUDT15 activity raises exposure to active metabolites and increases the risk of severe bone marrow suppression.
No. Current U.S. labeling states that safety and efficacy for Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis have not been established.
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Azathioprine. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542190/. Date Accessed September 15, 2026.
Azathioprine Therapy and TPMT and NUDT15 Genotype. Medical Genetics Summaries. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK100661/. Date Accessed September 15, 2026.
DailyMed - AZATHIOPRINE tablet. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=59f3219f-898f-4d05-a430-c2b3f5255af1. Date Accessed September 15, 2026.
DailyMed - IMURAN (azathioprine) tablet. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=606101a0-6244-7eff-e053-2a91aa0acadd. Date Accessed September 15, 2026.