* Pegvisomant. The U rations and D...

* Pegvisomant. The U rations and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved pegvisomant (Somavert) for the treatment of acromegaly in patients who have had an inadequate reply to existing therapies.

Pegvisomant is the first in a just discovered class of medications called germination hormone receptor antagonists. In clinical trials, it normalized concentrations of IGF-I in more than 90 percent of patients through blocking the effects of development hormone. The most common side consequences were injection site reactions, sweating, headache, and fatigue. Patients should have ordeals to monitor their liver function during the first six month of therapy.

* Enfuvirtide. The FDA has approved enfuvirtide (Fuzeon) for use in combination with other anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) medications to treat advanced HIV infection in adults and children ages six years and older

Enfuvirtide is the first in a of recent origin class of medications called fusion inhibitors. It interferes with the ingress of HIV into cells according to inhibiting the fusion of viral and cellular membranes. This inhibition braces the virus from infecting certain elements of the immune system.

Because HIV infection must be treated with a combination of medications to be effective, enfuvirtide can be used as part of a medication regimen in patients for whom there are limited options. It should no other than be used in patients who have previously used other anti-HIV medications and have ongoing evidence of viral replication. It is administered as a subcutaneous injection.

Physicians should carefully monitor patients for signs and symptoms of pneumonia. Although bacterial pneumonia was infrequent in clinical study participants, more patients treated with enfuvirtide exhibited bacterial pneumonia than did patients who did not receive enfuvirtide. Patients are advised to search for medical evaluation immediately if they unravel signs or symptoms suggestive of pneumonia, of that kind as cough with fever, rapid breathing, and shortness of breath.

In addition, enfuvirtide can cause one as well as the other serious systemic allergic reactions and local skin reactions at the site of injection. Patients taking enfuvirtide should contact their physician immediately if they evolve any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction: harass breathing, fever, skin rash, chills, vomiting, and gentle blood pressure.

Local skin reactions from enfuvirtide injections are usual occur in almost all patients, and may be painful. Patients must be careful that their skin does not become infected at the injection site.

COPYRIGHT 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group