Adverse Events Associated with Azathioprine Treatment in Korean Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

The study on azathioprine treatment in 174 Korean pediatric inflammatory bowel disease patients found a high incidence (56.3%) of adverse events, with bone marrow suppression (27%) being the most common, followed by gastrointestinal disturbances (15.5%), hair loss (12.1%), and pancreatitis (7.5%). The study emphasized the necessity for close monitoring due to the higher incidence of bone marrow suppression in East Asians compared to Caucasians, potentially due to genetic differences. Limitations included its retrospective design and small sample size, and it recommended further large-scale, prospective studies.