Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of azathioprine (Azoran), in fresh cases of renal homotransplantation.

In a randomised, controlled study, the efficacy and safety of an indigenously developed azathioprine formulation, Azoran/1000 (Searle), was compared with an imported formulation Imuran, as an immunosuppressive agent in fresh cases of renal transplantation. All 14 patients enrolled into the trial completed the study period were analysed. There were 8 episodes of rejection, 4 in each group. All these cases responded to pulse steroids. There was no instance of severe bone marrow suppression or hepatitis in either group and none of the patients had any drug related adverse effects. The results of this study show that Azoran is equiefficacious and safe as an immunosuppressive drug in renal transplants and compares satisfactorily in all respects with the imported formulation Imuran and has the added advantage of being easily available and less costly.