INFO - CDC: H1N1 and seasonal flu information for rheumatology health professionals

[Guest guest]

CDC

15 Oct 2009

" H1N1 and seasonal flu information for rheumatology health professionals "

Excerpt:

Are my patients with inflammatory arthritis and rheumatic diseases at

high risk for 2009 H1N1 influenza?

People with immunosuppression, either from their medical condition

(e.g. inflammatory rheumatic disease) or due to medications, are at

high risk for both seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza-related

complications1,2. Medications that can weaken the immune system and

increase the risk of influenza-related complications include

corticosteroids, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and

biological response modifiers. Although the exact type and severity of

immune dysfunction that correlates with risk of influenza-associated

complications has not been well defined, patients with more severe

immunosuppression are predisposed to serious complications such as

prolonged or increased severity of illness. CDC estimates that almost

6 million adults may be at risk for influenza-related complications

because they have inflammatory rheumatic disease.

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Read the full article here:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/arthritis_clinicians.htm

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