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Drug Side Effects (drug + side_effects)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Inhibitors of purine and pyrimidine synthesis: mycophenolate, azathioprine, and leflunomide

DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY, Issue 4 2002
Daniel Mimouni
The major goal in the treatment of autoimmune blistering diseases has changed from simply keeping the patient alive to suppressing disease while maintaining quality of life and minimizing drug side effects. Researchers and clinicians are constantly seeking steroid-sparing agents that would allow a dose reduction in corticosteroids with no loss of benefit. Purine and pyrimidine base inhibitors are commonly used for this purpose. These drugs act by inhibiting cell division and inducing cell death. The pharmacologic and clinical aspects of azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, and leflunomide are discussed in this review. [source]

Five-year follow-up during antipsychotic treatment: efficacy, safety, functional and social outcome

ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2007
E. Lindström
Objective:, Explore the long-term course of schizophrenia and related disorders. Method:, Naturalistic study of 225 patients initially treated with risperidone (monotherapy or in combination with other psychotropic drugs) over 5 years. Results:, Stable symptomatology and side effects were observed. Clinician GAF scores were 55,61, but patients' self-ratings were higher. Clinician and patient CGI scores were at the same level. Annual in-patient days decreased but days in sheltered accommodations increased still more. Only 12% of the patients studied or worked full-time. One in four had no social contacts except with staff. Eight patients died during the 5 years. Conclusion:, The findings underline the chronicity and seriousness of psychotic disorders in terms of social outcome and, indirectly, the low quality of life of this group of persons. Patients were generally well aware of their illness and able to sort out symptoms from drug side effects. This opens for more active involvement of patients in monitoring their own treatment. [source]

Migraine-Related Vertigo: Diagnostic Criteria and Prophylactic Treatment

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 10 2006
Arturo Maione MD
Abstract Objective/Hypothesis: The objective of this prospective, observational study was to evaluate the efficacy of migraine pharmacologic prophylaxis on a group of vertiginous patients considered affected by migraine-related vertigo on the basis of precise criteria of inclusion. Methods: Fifty-three patients affected by migraine-related vertigo were selected from a cohort of 652 vertiginous patients referred to our Dizziness Unit from March 2001 to June 2005. Inclusion criteria were at least five vertigo attacks occurred in any period of time or dizziness and/or positional vertigo for at least 6 months; migraine, past or present, and/or a family history of migraine and/or motion intolerance; and exclusion of other causes. Patients were submitted to migraine pharmacologic prophylaxis selected on the basis of the characteristics of the patients and of the drug side effects. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated after 6 months by questionnaire divided into five outcome categories (resolution, substantial control, moderate control, minimal control, no improvement or worsening) and, for the patients with recurrent vertiginous attacks, also reporting the percentage reduction of the attack frequency. Results: Thirty-six patients completed the study and were submitted to analysis of the results: 10 reported complete resolution of symptoms, 15 substantial control, 7 moderate control, one minimum control and 3 no improvement. Thirty-three of them had recurrent vertigo: 19 reported complete disappearance of the attacks, 8 reduction of the frequency >50%, 5 reduction <50%, and one no reduction. Conclusions: Migraine prophylactic treatment shows encouraging results in patients with migraine-related vertigo selected with our criteria of inclusion: 69.3% reported satisfactory control of symptoms (sum of complete resolutions and substantial controls) and 81.8% had at least a 50% reduction of the vertiginous episodes frequency. [source]

The use of etanercept as a non-surgical treatment for temporomandibular joint psoriatric arthritis: a case report

AUSTRALIAN DENTAL JOURNAL, Issue 2 2009
L Lamazza
Abstract Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin and joints characterized by extensive intra-articular bone resorption and silver-red scaly plaques most commonly found on extensor surfaces of the skin. When this arthritis affects the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and does not successfully halt in its early degenerative process, patients may undergo invasive joint reconstruction that irreversibly changes the TMJ physiologic joint dynamics. This study presents a case of TMJ PsA: anterior open bite, limited range of motion, and erythematous desquamative plaques of the upper limb extensors surfaces. The patient previously received non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressors, and corticosteroids over a four-year period while suffering the idiosyncratic drug side effects from long-term therapy without improvement in joint function or rash resolution. The treatment team then chose etanercept, a synthetic fusion protein therapy that binds with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, to interrupt reactive inflammatory arthritis. The patient received the TNF-alpha inhibitor monthly for two years. This last treatment led to full remission of both joint symptomatology and skin lesions. Our results should encourage general dental practitioners' involvement in curing patients with psoriatic arthritis when it affects the TMJ. [source]

Establishing pediatric immune response zones using the Cylex® ImmuKnowTM assay

CLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 6 2005
E Hooper
Abstract:, For all transplant patients, the transplant physician must balance the risk of rejection caused by under-immunosuppression against the risk of drug toxicity, secondary infections and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder with over-immunosuppression. A Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved in vitro assay, the Cylex® ImmuKnowTM assay, provides a global assessment of cellular immune function to help monitor the immune status of immunosuppressed patients. This assay uses the plant lectin phytohemagglutinin to stimulate lymphocytes; an ATP assay is then used to measure the degree of activation of CD4+ T cells. However, the normal values for this assay were developed with healthy adult patients. In this study, we determined the normal ranges for the ImmuKnowTM assay in healthy children and compared those values to levels obtained in healthy adults and in stable pediatric renal transplant patients. We found that healthy children 12 yr of age and older showed immune function levels indistinguishable from adults, while healthy children under 12 had significantly lower immune function levels than adults. For adults, the ImmuKnowTM assay zones (in ng/mL ATP) of strong, moderate and low immune function correspond to >525, 225 to 525, and <225. In children under 12, we found the corresponding zones to be >395, 175,395 and <175 ng/mL. The median value for normal adults is 415, whereas it is only 295 for children <12 yr of age and this value decreases to 165 in stable renal transplant patients <12 yr of age (compared with 258 for stable adult renal transplant patients). Thus, this study provides critical information necessary to utilize the ImmuKnowTM assay with pediatric patients. In adults, the degree of immune function as assessed by the ImmuKnowTM assay helps to predict patients at risk for infection or rejection. If further studies in pediatric patients document the same and is true for children, then the ImmuKnowTM assay will provide a useful adjunct tool to prevent over- or under-immunosuppression as newly developed drugs are utilized or drug treatment is altered because of drug side effects, toxicity, concurrent illnesses or rejection. [source]