Current Arthritis News and Research » Enbrel http://4-arthritis-info.com Regular Updates on the Many Forms of Arthritis Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:30:28 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Arthritis Drugs May Lead to Infection, Death http://4-arthritis-info.com/arthritis-drugs-lead-infection/ http://4-arthritis-info.com/arthritis-drugs-lead-infection/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:45:31 +0000 awesome http://4-arthritis-info.com/wp/?p=150 Histoplasmosis CapsulatumThe FDA ordered that the class of drugs known as Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha blockers, which are also referred to as TNF blockers or anti-TNF, carry a warning on the packaging that their use carries the risk of developing a potentially deadly fungal disease called histoplasmosis. These drugs are marketed under the names Cimzia, Enbrel, Humira, and Remicade.

The packaging already is required to warn about fungal infections in general, but the new warnings will have to specifically call out histoplasmosis. This is a result of the FDA receiving reports of 240 patients who were taking TNF blockers that developed histoplasmosis. Of those 240, 45 patients died, including at least 12 who had not been immediately been diagnosed with histoplasmosis leading to a delay in treatment. The ages of these patients ranged from 8 to 86 years, however, none of the deaths involved children.

Histoplasmosis starts in the lungs and can spread to other organs in the body. If not treated in time, it can lead to death. In healthy people the body’s immune system is able to control the histoplasmosis infection. The risk is to people that have compromised immune systems, such as patients with AIDS or taking immune system suppressing drugs, such as alpha blockers.

The fungus that causes histoplasmosis, histoplasma capsulatum, is found throughout the world. It grows in the ground and in material that is contaminated with bat or bird droppings. Concentrations can be especially high in bird roosts, caves where bats roost and poultry house litter. Histoplasmosis is also more common in the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys.

Symptoms of histoplasmosis include shortness of breath, fatigue, cough and fever.

Anti-TNF drugs are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and Crohn’s disease.

The FDA published their directive on September 4th. You can read the actual release here

Originally posted 2008-09-06 18:46:48. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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]]> http://4-arthritis-info.com/arthritis-drugs-lead-infection/feed/ 1 Tuberculosis Warning for Enbrel http://4-arthritis-info.com/tuberculosis-warning-for-enbrel/ http://4-arthritis-info.com/tuberculosis-warning-for-enbrel/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:45:24 +0000 awesome http://4-arthritis-info.com/wp/2008/05/03/tuberculosis-warning-for-enbrel/ Etanercept, marketed under the name Enbrel, is a drug that belongs to the class of drugs known as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha blocker. It is used primarily to treat rheumatoid arthritis, but has also been approved for use in treating polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriasis.

On May 1st, the [...] No related posts.]]> Etanercept, marketed under the name Enbrel, is a drug that belongs to the class of drugs known as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha blocker. It is used primarily to treat rheumatoid arthritis, but has also been approved for use in treating polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriasis.

On May 1st, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it has required a warning label be added to Enbrel to increase the awareness of the risk of infections, particularly tuberculosis. The updated warning recommends screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) before beginning treatment with Enbrel.

It also warns that patients be monitored for possible antimicrobial treatment if the develop an infection and to stop taking Enbrel if a serious infection develops.

“Tuberculosis has been observed in patients receiving TNF-blocking agents, including Enbrel,” according to the warning. “Tuberculosis may be due to reactivation of latent tuberculosis infection or to new infection. Data from clinical trials and preclinical studies suggest that the risk of reactivation of latent tuberculosis infection is lower with Enbrel than with TNF-blocking monoclonal antibodies. Nonetheless, postmarketing cases of tuberculosis reactivation have been reported for TNF blockers, including Enbel.”

The warning’s section on adverse events now says, “In global clinical studies of 20,070 patients (28,308 patient-years of therapy), tuberculosis was observed in approximately 0.01% of patients. In 15,438 patients (23,524 patient-years of therapy) from clinical studies in the U.S. and Canada, tuberculosis was observed in approximately 0.007% of patients. These studies include reports of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis.”

The changes were distributed to clinicians in a letter from Amgen and Wyeth, which market the drug for the manufacturer, Immunex.

Originally posted 2008-05-03 21:47:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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]]> http://4-arthritis-info.com/tuberculosis-warning-for-enbrel/feed/ 1 Rheumatoid Arthritis Remission Rates Improve with Drug Combo http://4-arthritis-info.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-remission-drug-combo/ http://4-arthritis-info.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-remission-drug-combo/#comments Sun, 06 Jun 2010 02:46:40 +0000 awesome http://4-arthritis-info.com/wp/?p=116 Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have been treated with several different drugs, including Enbrel (etanercept) and methotrexate. Now a study conducted in the United Kingdom indicates that treatment with a combination of Enbrel (an anti-TNF), and methotrexate increases the remission rate.

Nearly 550 RA patients from Europe, Asia, Australia and Latin America, none of whom [...] No related posts.]]> Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have been treated with several different drugs, including Enbrel (etanercept) and methotrexate. Now a study conducted in the United Kingdom indicates that treatment with a combination of Enbrel (an anti-TNF), and methotrexate increases the remission rate.

Nearly 550 RA patients from Europe, Asia, Australia and Latin America, none of whom had used methotrexate, were chosen at random for treatment with methotrexate alone, or with 50 mg. of Enbrel weekly. All of these patients had early moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis for less than 2 years.

Results from the first year of the study shows that close to 50% of the patients receiving the combination of drugs went into remission. 94% of them had at least good to moderate improvements. Conversely, only 28% of the methotrexate only patients went into remission.

The researchers also noted that the combination of drugs stopped disease progression in 80% of the patients, as compared with 59% who took methotrexate alone.

Results were determined by measuring disease activity in 28 joints and progression of the disease identified in X-rays.

Another benefit for patients is that those on the combination therapy had a 300% reduction in work loss compared to methotrexate alone.

The study was led by Professor Paul Emery at the Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine and was published in the British medical journal The Lancet.

Originally posted 2008-07-16 22:02:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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]]> http://4-arthritis-info.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-remission-drug-combo/feed/ 0 More Evidence Rheumatoid Arthritis Increases Cardiac Risks http://4-arthritis-info.com/evidence-rheumatoid-arthritis-increases-cardiac-risks/ http://4-arthritis-info.com/evidence-rheumatoid-arthritis-increases-cardiac-risks/#comments Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:22:17 +0000 awesome http://4-arthritis-info.com/wp/?p=263 On Wednesday’s post I reported on a study that indicated that people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were more likely to have cardiac problems that people without RA. In that study the researchers believed the increased cardiac risk was related to a condition known as diastolic dysfunction. Diastolic dysfunction is a condition where the there is stiffening in the heart which leads to problems with proper circulation of blood. Blood can actually spill backwards through the heart and into the lungs.

In a third study reported on at last week’s American College of Rheumatology’s (ACR) annual meeting in San Francisco, a team led Dr. Kimberly Liang, assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh, found additional evidence that there is a link between RA and diastolic dysfunction.

“Diastolic dysfunction occurred in 38.9 percent, compared to 28.8 percent in the non-rheumatoid arthritis group. We also found that patients in the rheumatoid arthritis group had higher average pulmonary arterial pressure, which is high blood pressure in the lungs and the right side of the heart. This is consistent with the impaired filling of the heart seen in diastolic dysfunction.” – Dr. Kimberly Liang

According to Dr. Liang, increased usage of electrocardiography in rheumatoid arthritis patients may improve detection of heart problems before there are clinical signs.

The chief science officer for the Arthritis Foundation, Dr. John Hardin, says that these studies highlight the impacts that RA can have on the cardiovascular system.

“These studies are consistent with the idea that systemic inflammation promotes cardiovascular disease,” Hardin said. “Rheumatoid arthritis creates a general state of inflammation within the body.”

Dr. Hardin also pointed out that there are some arthritis drugs that can increase the risk of heart failure in RA patients with already damaged hearts.

“For example, Enbrel (etanercept) can, in fact, in some people, potentiate heart failure, which can be a complication of myocardial infarction. To prevent a heart attack, patients with rheumatoid arthritis need to pay particular attention to cholesterol, blood pressure and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, the things you do to protect yourself against cardiovascular disease become doubly important.” – Dr. John Hardin.

Originally posted 2008-11-07 12:00:06. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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]]> http://4-arthritis-info.com/evidence-rheumatoid-arthritis-increases-cardiac-risks/feed/ 0 Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Improves Dementia http://4-arthritis-info.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-treatment-improves-dementia/ http://4-arthritis-info.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-treatment-improves-dementia/#comments Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:41:39 +0000 awesome http://4-arthritis-info.com/wp/2008/01/11/rheumatoid-arthritis-treatment-improves-dementia/ Fascinating news today about an 81 year-old retired physician with Alzheimer’s disease who received an injection of etanercept, under the brand name of Enbrel, a medication that is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Prior to the injection the patient was in relatively good health but he was agitated and could not remember what [...] No related posts.]]> Fascinating news today about an 81 year-old retired physician with Alzheimer’s disease who received an injection of etanercept, under the brand name of Enbrel, a medication that is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Prior to the injection the patient was in relatively good health but he was agitated and could not remember what state he was in, his birthday or the names of his doctors. Within 10 minutes of receiving an injection into his spine he was calmer and was able to recall the state he was in as well as his birthday and his doctors names.

He continued to experience improvements in cognitive functions for 2 hours after the injection.

This case was published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation by Dr. Edward L. Tobinick from UCLA and Dr. Hyman Gross from USC. The observations of Drs. Tobinick and Gross are similar to those from a study they conducted in 2006. In that study, 15 Alzheimer’s patients with mild to severe symptoms were given weekly injections of etanercept over a 6 month period during which time the patients experienced significant improvements in mental function.

Previous studies have suggested that etanercept, and potentially similar medications, may interrupt the inflammation caused by a protein known as tumor necrosis factor alpha, or TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha is the compound that is active in causing rheumatoid arthritis. TNF-alpha may also interfere with the way neurons communicate, so etanercept may help the brain cell transmit messages.

“This absolutely has the potential to be a disease-modifying treatment,” said Dr. Tobinick. “Since this report, our patient has received several other doses, and he’s continued to show a therapeutic benefit.”

Originally posted 2008-01-11 23:03:40. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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