REVIEW - Safety of biologic treatment for arthritis depends on the drug

[Guest guest]

Safety of Biologic Treatment for Arthritis Depends on the Drug

ScienceDaily (Feb. 15, 2011) — Some biologic drugs may be safer than

others according to a new systematic review by Cochrane researchers.

Biologics are a broad class of drugs based on biological molecules.

The drugs are used to reduce inflammation in diseases such as

rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Although the effectiveness of biologics is now well established, it is

thought that some may have rare but serious side effects related to

their immune-suppressing activities. Links have been made to increased

risk of infections, reactivation of tuberculosis (TB), cancer and

congestive heart failure.

The review is based on data from 163 studies focused on nine different

biologics used to treat arthritis and other conditions. A total of

50,010 patients took part in the studies. Adverse events and TB

reactivation were more likely among those taking biologics compared to

controls. Serious side effects, lymphoma and congestive heart failure

were no more likely. When compared to each other, two drugs,

adalimumab and infliximab, caused more adverse events, whereas

abatacept and anakinra were associated with fewer serious adverse

events. Taking certolizumab pegol was more likely to result in a

serious infection compared to several other biologics.

*********************************************

Read the whole article here:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110215191629.htm

Not an MD