Four FREE health reports for you

Register now for our vital and insightful health updates, and get four free health reports to help you live more healthily.

email to friend Printer friendly

Drugs and Side Effects

Htmms drug linked to rare and fatal nerve infection ms drug linked to

Biogen Idec is suspending the marketing of its multiple-sclerosis drug Tysabri (natalizumab), following one confirmed and fatal case, and another confirmed case, of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in patients taking the monoclonal-antibody drug. The relationship between Tysabri and PML has yet to be confirmed. However, given the aggressive nature of PML (death usually occurs one to four months after onset), Biogen has also stopped all clinical trials using Tysabri.
PML is a rare viral disorder of the brain and nervous system that primarily affects people with suppressed immune function such as patients with cancers like leukaemia or lymphoma, or victims of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). The infection is characterised by destruction of the fatty myelin sheath that insulates the nerve fibres of the brain. Symptoms of PML include mental deterioration, vision loss, speech disturbances, ataxia (inability to coordinate physical movements), paralysis and, ultimately, coma. In rare cases, seizures may also occur.
There is currently no effective treatment or possible cure for the disorder (www.fda.gov/cder/drug/advisory/natalizumab.htm).

Multiple sclerosis - Poisoning in slow motion - Multiple sclerosis (MS) often follows a highly individual and unpredictable course, sometimes leading to chronic and occasionally devastating disabili...

Multiple sclerosis - In orthodox medicine, the current fashion in combating multiple sclerosis (MS) is to administer immune modifiers: interferons 1b and 1a, copolymer 1 a...

Treat depression to slow down multiple sclerosis - New evidence suggests that effective treatment of depression may also slow the progress of multiple sclerosis (MS) in these patients. ...

Alternative treatment for multiple sclerosis - Because of the varied nature of the disease among sufferers the following suggestions are general. ... ...

Multiple sclerosis - The cause of MS is still a mystery. Many viruses have been strongly suspected, particularly the measles virus (Arch Neurol, 1990; 47(7):743-6). If t...

Multiple sclerosis: stress is a key factor - Multiple sclerosis MS sufferers often suspect that their condition worsens if they ve been under stress In fact it s probably more an observation...

Cancer Drug: It’s also given for lupus, and now two patients have died - A special alert has gone out on cancer drug Rituxan (rituximab) after it was blamed for the deaths of two patients. It’s a powerful immunosuppressant...

Ms: slow motion poisoning - What we term "multiple sclerosis" doesn't really exist as a recognizable entity. Although the main problem is damage to the myelin sheath, symptoms v...

The British Institute for the Identification & Treatment of Allergic Disorders

How You Beat Asthma
How To Beat Your M.E.
How You Beat ADHD
How You Beat Arthritis
How You Beat Backpain
How You Beat Depression How You Beat Pain
How You Beat The Menopause
How You Beat Heart Problems
WDDTY Health Shop

Register for our health updates and free gifts.
First Name:
Email: