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  • Does long term treatment with azathioprine predispose to malignancy and death in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus?

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Does long term treatment with azathioprine predispose to malignancy and death in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus?
  1. P Nero1,
  2. A Rahman2,
  3. D A Isenberg2
  1. 1Unidade de Reumatologia, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Lisboa, Portugal
  2. 2Centre for Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr P Nero
    Hospital de Egas Moniz, R. da Junqueira, 126 Lisboa 1349-019, Portugal; patricianerohotmail.com

https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2002.005371

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    The treatment of patients with rheumatic diseases with second line agents has expanded in the past three decades. However, such drugs have been linked with the development of malignancy, particularly in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.1 Azathioprine is used to treat patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with renal disease, or as a steroid-sparing agent.2 We have assessed the risk that azathioprine treatment predisposes to the development of malignancies and death in patients with SLE.

    We carefully reviewed the case notes of 358 patients with SLE receiving long term follow up in the …

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    • Notification and correction
      NOTIFICATION AND CORRECTION
      BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism
      Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2004; 63 470-470 Published Online First: 12 Mar 2004. doi: 10.1136/ard.2002.005371corr1