The safety of 6-mercaptopurine for childbearing patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a retrospective cohort study.

Background & Aims: 6-mercaptopurine/azathioprine is effective in IBD patients. However, data regarding toxicity associated with pregnancy are lacking, raising both patients' and physicians' concerns and sometimes resulting in elective abortion.

Methods: To evaluate potential toxicity of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), we reviewed the records of 485 patients who had received the drug.