Azathioprine Decreases Suppressor T Cells in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

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Abstract
To the Editor: Azathioprine is an antimetabolite and immunosuppressive agent primarily used to treat transplant recipients and patients with autoimmune diseases. It has been reported to induce a variety of perturbations of the immune system.1 , 2 Our interest in azathioprine is the possible usefulness of this drug in the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis,3 a disease suspected to have an immune pathogenesis.4 We gave seven patients with multiple sclerosis enough azathioprine to induce leukopenia (3500 white cells per cubic millimeter), using the schedule suggested by Rosen.5 Not enough time has elapsed to allow us to evaluate the clinical effects of . . .