Definition of "azathioprine" []

• An immunosuppressive agent used especially to prevent organ rejection in kidney transplant recipients. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Prednisone, a form of corticosteroid, and a drug called azathioprine Imuran, which may be given with prednisone, are lifesaving treatments for patients who have moderate to severe cases of autoimmune hepatitis."
• "The most successful compound to emerge from this approach was the 1-methyl-4-nitro-5 imidazolyl derivative, the compound now known as azathioprine (Imuran®)."
• ""Our study shows that corticosteroids are very useful in patients with IgA nephropathy, and that the addition of an immunosuppressant drug, such as azathioprine, doesn't increase their benefit," comments Claudio Pozzi, MD (Ospedale E. Bassini, Milan)."