AZATHIOPRINE-INDUCED MULTISYSTEM ORGAN FAILURE AND CARDIOGENIC-SHOCK

Azathioprine is administered to treat increasing numbers of disorders over a wide range of organ systems. The potential for the drug to caus e widespread organ dysfunction is not fully appreciated. In fact, azat hioprine can cause multisystem organ dysfunction involving the kidneys , liver, and cardiovascular system. The discovery of global cardiac dy sfunction as one component of this complication may indicate a mechani sm of hypotension. Clinicians must be aware of the potential for azath ioprine to cause such toxicities to facilitate appropriate patient man agement.