Thiopurines (Azathioprine, Mercaptopurin) updated on 07-28-2025

Very preterm (28 to 32 weeks)

R analysis
id Study   Lib. in paper Exposition period    Study type 
 Control type 
 
Tags OR 95%CI x1/n1 x0/n0 no cases no exposed ROB Ref.
S18482
R78418		 Vestergaard, 2024 Very Preterm, <32 Gestational Weeks during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) retrospective cohort unexposed, sick Adjustment: No Indications: Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD) 3.39 [0.47;24.38] C 2/111   2/372 4 111
ref
S13576
R52617		 Meyer b (Controls exposed to Anti-TNF), 2021 Very preterm (< 32 weeks) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) retrospective cohort (claims database) exposed to other treatment, sick excluded Adjustment: Yes Indications: Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD) 2.08 [1.11;3.85]
excluded (control group) 		72/3,554   42/3,525 114 3,554
ref
S13454
R51827		 Meyer b (Controls unexposed, sick), 2021 Very preterm (< 32 weeks) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) retrospective cohort (claims database) unexposed, sick Adjustment: Yes Indications: Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD) 1.84 [1.36;2.50] 72/3,554   213/19,811 285 3,554
ref
S12240
R46210		 Lazzaroni, 2020 Severe preterm birth (<34th weeks) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) retrospective cohort unexposed, sick Adjustment: No Indications: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Matched 2.58 [0.49;13.70] C 3/27   3/65 6 27
ref
Total 3 studies 1.89 [1.40;2.54] 295 3,692
x1: number of endpoints among exposed, n1: number of exposed; x0: number of endpoints among non exposed, n0: number of non exposed; C: calculated odds ratio from numbers of events and effectives

Forest plot

StudyTE95% CIn casesn exposedweightROBABCDEF Vestergaard, 2024Vestergaard, 2024 3.39[0.47; 24.38]41112%ROB confusion: criticalROB selection: criticalROB classification: criticalROB missing: lowROB mesure: moderateROB reporting: moderate Meyer b (Controls unexposed, sick), 2021Meyer b, 2021 1 1.84[1.36; 2.50]2853,55495%ROB confusion: seriousROB selection: lowROB classification: moderateROB missing: unclearROB mesure: moderateROB reporting: moderate Lazzaroni, 2020Lazzaroni, 2020 2.58[0.49; 13.70]6273%ROB confusion: seriousROB selection: unclearROB classification: criticalROB missing: lowROB mesure: moderateROB reporting: moderate Total (3 studies) I2 = 0% 1.89[1.40; 2.54]2953,6920.510.01.0ROB: A: confusion, B: selection, C: classification, D: missing, E: measurement, F: reportinglow,moderate,serious,critical,unclear,

1: Controls unexposed, sick;

Sensitivity analysis

SubsetTE95% CIn casesn exposedkI2 Type of studies cohort studiescohort studies 1.89[1.40; 2.54]2953,6920%NAVestergaard, 2024 Meyer b (Controls unexposed, sick), 2021 Lazzaroni, 2020 3 case control studiescase control studies 0 Type of controls unexposed, sickunexposed, sick 1.89[1.40; 2.54]2953,6920%NAVestergaard, 2024 Meyer b (Controls unexposed, sick), 2021 Lazzaroni, 2020 3 Tags Adjustment   - No  - No 2.90[0.81; 10.35]101380%NAVestergaard, 2024 Lazzaroni, 2020 2   - Yes  - Yes 1.84[1.36; 2.49]2853,554 -NAMeyer b (Controls unexposed, sick), 2021 1 Indications   - Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD)  - Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD) 1.87[1.38; 2.52]2893,6650%NAVestergaard, 2024 Meyer b (Controls unexposed, sick), 2021 2   - Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)  - Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) 2.58[0.49; 13.70]627 -NALazzaroni, 2020 1 MatchedMatched 2.58[0.49; 13.70]627 -NALazzaroni, 2020 1 All studiesAll studies 1.89[1.40; 2.54]2953,6920%NAVestergaard, 2024 Meyer b (Controls unexposed, sick), 2021 Lazzaroni, 2020 30.510.01.0

Publication bias and p-hacking diagnosis

funnel plot

Funnel plot not drawn. Less than 3 points.

Asymetry test p-value = NaN (by Egger's regression)

not enought points

p values plot

Funnel plot not drawn. Less than 3 points.

Sub-groups analysis using all included studies

excluded 13576

Sub-groupsTE95% CIn casesn exposedkI2ROB type of controls unexposed, sick controlsunexposed, sick controls 1.89[1.40; 2.54]2953,6920%NAVestergaard, 2024 Meyer b (Controls unexposed, sick), 2021 Lazzaroni, 2020 3 exposed to other treatment, sick controlsexposed to other treatment, sick controls 2.08[1.12; 3.87]1143,554 -NAMeyer b (Controls exposed to Anti-TNF), 2021 10.510.01.0