Anti-inflammatory drug Remicade

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I know that some of us are being treated for arthritis, etc. and taking

anti-inflammatories. If you take these, please call your Dr!

Hugs,

Jo

Anti-Inflammatory Drug Linked to TB

The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) reported

recently that twenty-eight people in North America and Europe have developed

tuberculosis soon after they were given the anti-inflammatory drug Remicade

(infliximab). The EMEA said that in view of the seriousness of these reports,

it was recommending that Remicade treatment should be stopped if active TB is

suspected in any patient until the diagnosis was ruled out or the infection

had been treated. Remicade is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's

disease, which is characterized by diarrhea, cramping, and loss of appetite.

Around 100,000 people worldwide have taken it since it was launched in the US

in August 1998 and since it received European marketing authorization in

August 1999. The drug is marketed by Schering-Plough in Europe and by

& in the United States. ``To date, 28 cases of TB have been reported

(nine cases in North America and 19 cases in Europe) of which one had a fatal

outcome, `` the EMEA said in a December 20 statement. ``In a significant

proportion, the onset of active TB occurred after three or less infusions of

Remicade, thus supporting a possible relationship with initiation of Remicade

therapy,'' the agency added.