What rheumatic diseases are commonly treated with AZA?
- • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA; less effective than methotrexate [MTX] and slower onset).
- • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
- • Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (polymyositis, dermatomyositis, necrotizing myopathies).
- • Behçet’s syndrome.
- • Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (remission maintenance).
- • Many other rheumatic diseases (in an attempt to decrease glucocorticoid dosage).
Pearl: AZA is more effective as a maintenance therapy than for induction of remission in rheumatic disease.