Arthritis drugs: effective but risky

By Jane Erikson , ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Friday April 12 2002 05:45 AM EDT 

Recent reports on the dangers of drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis have left patients and their doctors grappling with a complex risk-benefit equation. 

The most painful and crippling form of arthritis shortens lives and renders most of its victims unable to work within 10 years.

At the same time, these drugs leave patients vulnerable to life-threatening infections, cancer and organ failure. 

Recent reports brought to light dangerous risks with three of the most promising new treatments for the disease. 

A "biological response modifier" called Remicade can trigger tuberculosis and other infections, and death. An anti-inflammatory drug called Vioxx increases risk of heart attack. 

And the drug Arava has caused liver failure and death in 12 Americans, according to the Public Citizen Health Research Group, which two weeks ago petitioned the Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) to take Arava off the market. 

"I feel like I have to weigh the risk with what this disease would do to me if I didn't have the drug," Kounovsky says. "When you read everything, it scares you. And yes, people could get into some really dire situations with these drugs. But you're monitored closely, so if you develop problems it's going to get caught pretty fast." 

With Arava, that may not be the case. The drug has been linked to acute liver failure - a
sudden and fatal change that can be detected by a blood test, but not necessarily in time. For that reason, Public Citizen wants the drug banned. 

Go To: http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/azstar/20020412/lo/arthritis_drugs_effective_but_risky_1.html