Off-label azathioprine use in dermatology

Initiatief: NVDV Aantal modules: 16

Off-label azathioprine - Cutaneous vasculitis

Uitgangsvraag

What is the safety and efficacy of off-label treatment with azathioprine in patients with dermatological diseases?

- Cutaneous vasculitis

Aanbeveling

Weak

There is a weak recommendation for treating cutaneous vasculitis with azathioprine in combination with oral corticosteroids if conventional treatment options are contra-indicated or have failed. It is very uncertain if the efficacy outweighs the safety aspects (very uncertain estimate for a very uncertain moderate effect). Patients with cutaneous vasculitis caused by an identifiable agent that can be eliminated should not be initiated on this treatment. Elimination of the identifiable agent should be the first treatment step. Extra attention should be given to safety aspects when prescribing azathioprine (uncertain off-label safety).

Overwegingen

Important subjects to consider

Remarks

Uncertainty in the estimates of likely benefit, and likely risk, inconvenience, and costs*

 

* estimates for benefit (efficacy/effectiveness) and safety are ranked by the working group as very certain, certain, uncertain or very uncertain.

-One randomized trial (very low quality of evidence) and case-series have demonstrated the benefit of AZA with concomitant oral corticosteroids in cutaneous vasculitis patients. Very uncertain estimate.

-Uncertainty about the off-label safety of azathioprine.

-Costs may vary with the number of follow-up visits and dosage of azathioprine.

Importance of the outcome that treatment prevents

-Complete remission cutaneous vasculitis.

Magnitude of treatment effect*

 

* the magnitude of treatment effect is ranked by the working group as good, moderate, low, no effect or worsening

-Complete remission ranges from 33 to 88% after various treatment duration and dosage. Moderate effect.

Precision of estimate of treatment effect*

 

* estimates are ranked by the working group as very certain, certain, uncertain or very uncertain.

-Descriptive outcomes; wide range. Very uncertain precision.

Risks associated with therapy

-See section “general treatment considerations” and “safety”

Burdens of Therapy

-During the first weeks of therapy laboratory monitoring

at weekly intervals is necessary, after wards every one to three months. See also section “general treatment considerations”.

Risk of target event

-Target event is cutaneous vasculitis; so risk is 100%.

Costs

- Costs of AZA are between € 10,14 and 10,17 for 15 days 3dd 50 mg, not included are the costs for delivery, laboratory monitoring and visits to the clinic.

(*www.medicijnkosten.nl).

Varying Values between patients

-

Other

-Patients with CV caused by an identifiable agent that can be eliminated should not be initiated on this treatment.

Elimination of identifiable agent should suffice.

Onderbouwing

In total, 3 studies published between 1987 and 1991 were found in the literature in which patients with cutaneous vasculitis (CV) or cutaneous involvement of systemic vasculitis were treated with AZA; 1 RCT and 2 case series.

 

All outcome measurements were by descriptive means; no outcome measurement tools were used.

The number of patients with a complete remission (defined as complete resolution of the lesions) was used to define effectiveness. Also, the number of subjects with effective treatment defined as resolution of lesions, returning to normal of abnormal laboratory markers and/or ability to lower dosage of oral corticosteroids, were employed. Duration of remission, time to relapse and mortality rate were also reported to assess aspects of efficacy.

Low

The only available RCT is of very low quality with serious limitations in study quality, sparse data and some uncertainty about directness (also see Table 15). The other evidence consisting of case series shows no inconsistency with the RCT.

RCT

Methodological quality

Heurkens et al. performed a non-blinded randomized controlled trial. Details on randomization and allocation of concealment were not given. Furthermore it was not clear how the severity of vasculitis was measured and by whom. An overview of the methodological quality can be seen in the risk of bias table (Table 15).

 

Demography

Three treatment groups are described, but only two groups are comparable with each other according to disease severity and were actively compared in this study, namely groups A and B. Group C consisted of patients with severe systemic involvement of vasculitis and was therefore excluded from our analysis. Group A received prednisolone with AZA and group B received conventional antirheumatic treatment including non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, hydroxychloroquine, penicillamine, sulfasalazine and aurothioglucose. Duration of treatment was 3 months and follow-up 29 months. Dosage employed was 2.0 mg/kg/day with 10-60 mg concomitant prednisolone.

In total, 19 subjects (12 male, 7 female) were enrolled, with a mean age of approximately 66 years (range 37-86) in groups A & B. In all subjects the diagnosis of CV was established by presence of clinical features of CV (palpable purpura, ulcers, nail fold infarcts, peripheral gangrene) and by histological analysis of skin biopsies demonstrating infiltration of small vessels. TMPT activity was not measured prior to initiation of AZA (Table 13).

 

Efficacy

There was a significant reduction of skin vasculitis after 18 months in group A; 7 subjects (88%) achieved complete remission. In group B, 6 subjects (55%) achieved remission, but this outcome was not significant. The difference between the treatment groups was also not statistically significant. One patient in the AZA group withdrew due to gastrointestinal side effects (Table 14).

 

Case series

Demography

Two studies of one author were included of which the most recent one was prospective. In total, 19 patients with various forms of cutaneous vasculitis were described, including subjects with recalcitrant and severe disease appearing as palpable purpura, livedo reticularis, bullous lesions, ulcerations, urticaria like lesions and nodules. In all cases, there was only mild systemic involvement. Clinical diagnosis was confirmed by histological investigation. The age of the subjects ranged from 20-50 years. Previous treatments included oral corticosteroids, dapsone, methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine sulfate, colchicine and indomethacin. The dose of AZA employed ranged from 150 to 250 mg/day. Duration of treatment and follow-up period depended highly on individual requirement and was not described in the two studies of Callen et al. (Table 13).

 

Effectiveness

All outcome measurements were done by descriptive means. In the study of Callen et al (1991) 2 (33%) of the subject had a complete response defined as disappearance of existing lesions, no new lesions and being able to stop other treatment. Three subjects (50%) had partial response, defined as clearing of the lesions, but inability to lower the dose without relapse and 1 subject experienced no response. In the other study of Callen et al (1987) all patients responded well on treatment with AZA, defined as resolution of lesions, returning to normal of abnormal laboratory markers or ability to lower dosage of prednisolone (Table 14).

  1. 1 - Callen JP, Ekenstein E. Cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis: clinical experience in 44 patients. South Med J 1987; 80: 848-51.
  2. 2 - Heurkens AH, Westedt ML, Breeveld FC. Prednisone plus azathioprine treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis complicated by vasculitis. Arch Intern Med 1991; 151: 2249-54.
  3. 3 - Callen JP, Spencer LV, Burruss JB et al. Azathioprine. An effective, corticosteroid-sparing therapy for patients with recalcitrant cutaneous lupus erythematosus or with recalcitrant cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Arch Dermatol 1991; 127: 515-22.59.

Autorisatiedatum en geldigheid

Laatst beoordeeld  : 22-06-2010

Laatst geautoriseerd  : 22-06-2010

Geplande herbeoordeling  :

A guideline can only be leading, if it is maintained on a continuous base, with systematic monitoring of medical scientific literature as well as regular contributions from clinical practice. In case of important developments, it can be decided that the complete working group shall meet to propose amendments, which will be distributed among the various professional groups. A revision will be planned at least every five years.

Initiatief en autorisatie

Initiatief:
  • Nederlandse Vereniging voor Dermatologie en Venereologie
Geautoriseerd door:
  • Nederlandse Vereniging voor Dermatologie en Venereologie
  • Nederlandse Vereniging van Ziekenhuisapothekers

Doel en doelgroep

Objective

A guideline is a document with recommendations to support patient care in daily practice. The guideline is based on results of scientific research and subsequent formation of opinion, aimed at deciding on the appropriate medical intervention. A guideline and the documents derived from it, give recommendations for the treatment of patients, including psychosocial care and patient information.

 

Intended users

The guideline is intended for members of the medical and paramedical professional group, including: dermatologists, general practitioners, pharmacists and dermatology nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. A text derived from the guideline is available for patients.

Samenstelling werkgroep

A working group was appointed for the development of the guideline. This group consisted of dermatologists, pharmacists and a general practitioner from Lareb (the Dutch pharmacovigilance centre). During the formation of the group, the geographical distribution of its members was taken into account as well as a balanced representation of academic and non-academic employment . The members of the working group have acted independently and not a single member received any favour aimed at influencing the guidelines.

 

J.G. (Jan Gerrit) van der Schroeff, MD, PhD

Dermatologist, Chairman working group

J.J.E. (Jannes) van Everdingen, MD, PhD

Director NVDV

M. E. (Mandy) Schram, MD

PhD candidate and resident Dermatology

P. (Pieter) van der Valk, MD,PhD

Dermatologist

W.R. (William) Faber MD. PhD, FRCP

Dermatologist

A.Y. (Amber) Goedkoop, MD, PhD

Dermatologist

R.J. (Rinke) Borgonjen, MD

PhD candidate

A. (Annemieke) Horikx, PharmD

Pharmacist KNMP

E.P. (Eugène) van Puijenbroek, MD

General practitioner Lareb

R.I.F. (Rutger) van der Waal, MD, PhD

Dermatologist

A. (Annemieke) Floor, PharmD

Pharmacist-researcher

W. (Wouter) Goldtschmidt, MD, PhD

Dermatologist

E.L. (Noortje) Swart PhD

Clinical pharmacist

Ph. I. (Phyllis) Spuls, MD, PhD

Dermatologist

Belangenverklaringen

List of conflicts of interest

None reported

Methode ontwikkeling

Evidence based

Implementatie

During the various phases of developing the draft guideline, the implementation of the guideline and the actual workability of the recommendations are taken into account as much as is possible. The guideline is distributed to all relevant professional groups and hospitals through the internet and in various medical journals attention will be given to the guideline.

Werkwijze

During a period of year ( meetings) the working group worked on a draft guideline. An expert group made a bottleneck analysis during the preparatory phase. The expert group compiled a list of drugs which are frequently subscribed for off-label use in dermatology. The listed drugs were prioritized according to frequency of use and occurrence of potential serious adverse events. The members of the working group had the opportunity to propose alterations in the list of selected drugs The members of the working group agreed on composing a guideline about the off-label use of the following six selected drugs:

  • Azathioprine
  • Cyclosporine
  • Methotrexate
  • sulfasalazine dapsone
  • Hydroxychloroquine

 

The working group agreed that the outcomes efficacy/effectiveness and safety are crucial for decision making. . The working group started by making a draft guideline for azathioprine and decided that the applied methods would serve as a blueprint for the other five drugs. Useful literature was found by systematic searches and by checking of references (see “Methodology of literature search”). The members of the working group assessed the relevant literature with regard to content and quality. Subsequently, conclusions were drawn and recommendations were made for off-label use of the selected drugs by the members of the working group. The final version of the guideline was approved by all scientific societies involved on.

 

Methodology of literature search

Research question

For each selected drug a research question according to PICO was made.

PICO stands for:

  • Participants/population: population of patients with a dermatological disease who are treated with a drug that is not registered for the use in this particular disease.
  • Intervention: the selected drug.
  • Comparison: any other treatment (e.g. other systemic therapy, placebo, quality of life intervention), in case of lack of a control group; no other treatment.
  • Outcome: safety and/or efficacy.

 

Search strategy

For each selected drug a standardized search was performed in the Medline (by PubMed) (1950-2009), EMBASE (1980-2009) and CENTRAL databases. This search strategy was designed by a literature specialist of the department ‘Professionele Kwaliteit van de Orde van Medisch Specialisten’. Also references of included articles were screened for eligibility.

 

Pre-selection with keywords 

After the searches were uploaded in Reference Manager, articles labeled with possible keywords for exclusion were selected. A sample was taken of these selected articles to check if there were any relevant articles in that selection. The sample size was either 20 or 50 articles, depending on the number of articles labeled with a specific keyword. If the sample didn’t contain any relevant articles, all the articles labeled with a specific keyword were excluded.

 

In the searches of cyclosporine, methotrexate, dapsone, hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine articles with the keywords ‘case report’ were excluded after a sample of 50 articles didn’t reveal any relevant articles for inclusion.

 

In addition, articles with the following keywords were excluded after a sample of 20 articles didn’t show any relevant articles:

 

Cyclosporine

Dapsone

-

Transplantation

-

Leprosy

-

Transplantation immunology

-

Mycobarterium leprae

-

Transplantation immunology [Physiology]

-

Pneumocystis carinii

-

Acute graft rejection [Complication]

-

Toxoplasmosis

-

Acute graft rejection [Diagnosis]

-

Spider

-

Acute graft rejection [Drug therapie]

Methotrexate*

-    Acute graft versus host disease

-

Psoriasis

-

Bone Marrow Transplantation

-

Reumathoid arthritis

-

Breast cancer

-

Leukemia

-

Graft Survival

-

Osteosarcoom

-

Graft Recipient

-

Lymphoma

-

Kidney Graft

-

Bladder

-

Kidney Transplantation

-

Breast Cancer

-

Liver Transplantation

-

Mycosis

-

Proteinuria

-

Multiple sclerosis

-

Nephritis

-

Colitis

-

Irradiation

-

Asthma

-

Heart transplantation

-    Cancer + skin + cutaneous

-

Vitamin

Sulfasalazine

-

Psoriasis

-

Rheumatoid arthritis

Hydroxychloroquine:

-

Arthritis

-

Rheumatic disease

-

Crohn

-

Systemic lupus erythematodes

-

Ulcerative colitis

-

Discoid lupus erythematodes

 

 

-

Lupus erythematosus

 

 

In the methotrexate search articles with the note ‘review’ were excluded after a sample of 20 articles didn’tcontain any relevant articles.

 

An overall validation of this method was provided by the double search strategy on azathioprine. An initial/broad search (thus without using keywords) was compared with the search that used specific keywords for exclusion. Articles with the keywords ‘case report’, ‘polymyositis’ and ‘idiopatic thrombocytopenic purpera’ were excluded after a sample showed no relevant articles.

We found that all studies that were included in initial/broad search were present in the search using keywords for exclusion. This validates the method of excluding articles by using keywords.

 

Selection of articles 

All articles with title and abstract referring to off-label treatment with the predefined drug in patients with dermatological diseases were selected. To determine eligibility, the full text of the selected articles was screened according to the predefined in-and exclusion criteria. Data on methodological quality, study characteristics, efficacy and safety were extracted by using a data extraction form. All stages of literature selection and data extraction were performed by two independent reviewers. Disagreements about study selection and data extraction were solved by discussion.

 

In- and exclusion criteria

Selection of the articles was performed by using the following pre-defined in- and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria:

-       The article concerns the selected drug and

-       The selected drug is used in the treatment of a dermatological disease for which that particular drug is not registered.

 

Exclusion criteria:

-      Case reports with less than 5 subjects*

-      Lack of data on safety and efficacy

-      Articles concerning treatment other than systemic treatment with the selected drug

-      Animal studies

-      In vitro studies

-      Double publications

-      Articles concerning diseases that are primarily treated by other specialists

-      Language other than English, French, German and Dutch

No restrictions were imposed regarding age, gender, skin type and number of subjects in a study and date of publication.

A random sample of the excluded articles was taken to check if any relevant adverse effects were missed.

 

Data-extraction 

Of all the included articles, data were extracted by two independent reviewers. This was done by using a standardized data extraction form. Disagreements on data extraction were solved by discussion.

Data- extraction was performed on:

-      Methodological quality

-      Demographics

-      Efficacy

-      Safety

 

Methodological quality

Randomized controlled trials (RCT’s) were assessed following the criterion grading system described in the Cochrane Handbook for systematic reviews of interventions 5.0.0 (updated February 2008). To assess the risk of bias withinincluded RCT’s, the following parameters for methodological quality were used; sequence generation, concealment of allocation, blinding (of participants, researchers and outcome assessment), reporting of incomplete data, presence of selective outcome reporting and other potential threats to validity.

 

The methodological quality of cohort studies was assessed by using the checklists for cohort studies described by the Dutch Cochrane Centre.

 

Demographics

Data of demographics were extracted concerning:

-      Study design: randomized? controlled? prospective, retrospective?

-      Treatment arms

-      Disease of the subjects: severity, stage, subtype, duration

-      Previous medications

-      Diagnostics: what was the method of diagnosis? Clinical, histopathological, other diagnostic criteria?

-      Subjects: number, male/female, age, subgroups

-      Duration of treatment

-      Duration of follow up

-      Concomitant medication

-      Dosing schedule of the selected drug

 

Efficacy/effectiveness

-      Used outcome parameters: clinical assessment, global assessment, quality of life measurement, laboratory markers, onset of effect, duration of remission, relapse rate, etc)

-      Severity outcomes: the result of the used outcome parameters. Differences between baseline and end of the study and between treatment groups.

 

Safety

Safety is an important issue in off-label use of medication. The working group scored all adverse events, including a special focus on serious adverse effects. Within the included studies, every study that reported (serious) adverse events was taken into account. Adverse events reported in RCT’s or cohorts will be compared with the adverse events that occurred in the control group. If possible a relative risk will be calculated.

 

Extracted safety data:

-      Adverse events: which? how many? at what time during treatment or after treatment? 

-      Serious adverse events: which? how many? at what time during treatment or after treatment?

-      Withdrawals due to adverse events?

 

An Adverse Event (AE) was defined as an unfavorable and unintended sign, including an abnormal laboratory finding, symptom or disease associated with the use of a medical treatment or procedure, regardless whether it is considered related to the medical treatment or procedure, that occurs during the course of the study.

 

A Serious Adverse Events (SAE) was defined as any untoward medical occurrence that results in death, is life threatening, requires inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity, is a congenital anomaly/birth defect or is reported in the study as such.

 

Handling of the data

Extracted data will be presented in tables and with accompanying text per disease following standardized means.

 

Level of evidence 

The description and assessment of the articles according to the data extraction (see above) are listed in separate sections under the headers “Safety data off -label azathioprine” or “Efficacy/effectiveness data off-label azathioprine” and in tables (see section Tables).

Not all data extracted from articles are equally valuable. Therefore every set of articles is summarised in a conclusion, in which the level of the evidence is indicated according to the GRADE system (see boxes below). Consequently the recommendations in this guideline are based on evidence generated by scientific research, with emphasis on the outcomes safety and effectiveness/efficacy. The search results that were used are up to date until at least 01-10-2009, unless stated otherwise.

 

GRADE system

Type of evidence

Randomized trial = high

Observational study = low

Any other evidence = very low

Decrease* grade if

Important inconsistency

• Some or major uncertainty about directness

• Imprecise or sparse data

• High probability of reporting bias

• Serious or very serious limitation to study quality

Increase grade if

• Strong evidence of association—significant relative risk of > 2 ( < 0.5) based on consistent evidence from two or more observational studies, with no plausible confounders (+1)

• Very strong evidence of association—significant relative risk of > 5 ( < 0.2) based on direct evidence with no major threats to validity (+2)

• Evidence of a dose response gradient (+1)

• All plausible confounders would have reduced the effect (+1)

*Each quality criterion can reduce the quality by one or, if very serious, by two levels.

 

Conclusion

  • High = further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect
  • Moderate = further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate
  • Low = further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate
  • Very low = any estimate of effect is very uncertain.

 

Development of the recommendations

For the development of a recommendation, other aspects than scientific evidence are also of importance, such as: patient preferences, availability of special techniques or expertise, organisational aspects, social consequences or costs. Known adverse events are also taken into account, as far as they were not already distilled from scientific literature. These aspects are discussed after the conclusion(s). On the basis of literature, the conclusion is here placed in the context of daily practice, and the pros and cons of the various treatments are balanced against each other. The final formulated recommendation is the result of the available evidence in combination with these considerations and can be formulated as a weak or strong recommendation in favour of a certain therapy or as a weak or strong recommendation against a certain therapy (see box below). The aim of this procedure and the formulation of the guideline using this ‘format’ is to enhance the transparency of the guideline. It leaves room for an efficient discussion during the meetings of the working group and moreover, it improves clarity for the user of the guideline.

 

Recommendation

  • Strong = if clinicians, based on the available evidence, are very certain that benefits do, or do not, outweigh risks or burdens, they will make a strong recommendation.
  • Weak = if clinicians, based on the available evidence, believe that benefits and risks or burdens are finely balanced, or if considerable uncertainty exists about the magnitude of benefits and risks, they must make a weak recommendation.

Zoekverantwoording

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Volgende:
Off-label azathioprine - Cut. erythematosus