New warnings on Anti-TNF drugs

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I'm sorry if this comes through twice. Web mail gave me an error.

Federal health authorities have asked the manufacturers of four widely used

immunosuppressive drugs to bolster safety warnings on the risk of developing

opportunistic fungal infections.

The drugs, Humira, Cimzia, Enbrel and Remicade, belong to a class of medications

known as tumor necrosis factor alpha blockers (TNF-alpha blockers), which

suppress the immune system and are approved to treat several conditions

including rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic

arthritis,

plaque psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis and Crohn's disease.

All four drugs already carry black-box warnings related to different safety

issues, including fungal infections.

" FDA has asked the manufacturers of these four drug products to highlight

existing warnings of fungal infections

....

Doctors and patients should be on the lookout for persistent fever, cough,

shortness of breath and fatigue. Any patients experiencing these symptoms,

especially

if they live or have traveled to areas where the fungus is endemic, should seek

medical attention immediately.

http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=619099

--

Dodge

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