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A new study conducted by researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that rheumatoid arthritis patients taking Humira or Remicade stand an increased risk for developing several types of cancer or serious infection.
The drugs already have warning labels that mention some of the associated risks, including the heightened risk for lymphoma, tuberculosis, and pneumonia. The findings of this recent study, however, appear to have extended the scope of risks.
In addition to lymphoma, the study discovered a link to other cancers such as skin, gastrointestinal, breast and lung cancer. Moreover, the study showed that Humira and Remicade tripled the risk for developing these types of cancers.
There were a total of 29 cancers in 3,493 patients who received one of the two drugs. Only 3 cancers were found in the 1,512 patients taking a placebo.
Additionally, the study found that patients who take these drugs face twice the risk of developing serious infections. Of the patients studied, 126 taking Humira or Remicade suffered from serious unexplained infections compared with only 26 who were on placebos.
There has been a significant rise in the number of patients taking these drugs in recent years, with more than a half-million patients having received the injectable treatments.
The FDA approved Remicade for use in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in 1998. Humira gained FDA approval 2002.
Rheumatoid arthritis affects more than two million Americans and is a condition caused by a malfunctioning immune system that leads to painful, often debilitating, joint inflammation.
Humira and Remicade are both drugs that block the production of a protein linked to inflammation.
Researchers noted that the risks associated with these drugs vary according to the individual patient. They stressed that the overall risk is relatively small, but that the risk seems to increase with age, duration of use, and dosage.
The researchers also said that patients taking these drugs should undergo regular cancer screenings and consult with their doctor if they develop fevers, coughs, or other unusual symptoms.
Their study is published in this week''s Journal of the American Medical Association.
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