- ALLERGY, RESPIRATORY
- Childhood Food Allergies on the Rise
- Folic Acid Might Offer Allergy Relief
- New Spray Could Benefit Cystic Fibrosis Patients
- ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
- Acupuncture Cuts Dry Mouth in Cancer Patients
- Music Therapy For Prehistoric Man?
- Bitter Melon Extract May Slow, Stop Breast Cancer
- BONES & JOINTS
- Backpack Safety Should Be on Back-to-School Lists
- Pain More a Cause of Arthritis Than a Symptom
- Most Kids With Type 1 Diabetes Lack Vitamin D
- CANCER
- Many Cancer Patients Turn to Complementary Medicine
- Want to Stop Cancer? You Can, Experts Say
- Spice Compounds May Stem Tumor Growth
- CAREGIVING
- Hospital Volume Imperfect Gauge of Cancer Surgery Outcomes
- Depression, PTSD Common Among Lung Transplant Patient Caregivers
- Tainted China Formula Caused High Rate of Kidney Stones in Kids
- CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
- Exercise Extends Life of Kidney Patients
- Years of Exposure to Traffic Pollution Raises Blood Pressure
- Night Shift Work Hard on the Heart
- COSMETIC
- The Acne Drug Accutane More Than Doubles Depression Risk
- With Psoriasis, the Internet May Offer Hope
- What to Do If You Have Unsightly Veins
- DENTAL, ORAL
- Acupuncture May Ease Anxiety Over Dental Work
- Sports Drinks May Be Tough on Teeth
- Holistic Dentistry-My View
- DIABETES
- Chamomile Tea May Ward Off Diabetes Damage
- Formula Puts Doctor, Patient Glucose Readings on Same Page
- Strict Blood Sugar Lowering Won't Ease Diabetes Heart Risk
- DIET, NUTRITION
- Decline of Underweight Children in U.S. Continue to Fall
- The Food Irradiation Story
- Folic Acid Might Offer Allergy Relief
- DISABILITIES
- Review Finds Marijuana May Help MS Patients
- Could Your Cell Phone Help Shield You From Alzheimer's?
- ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
- Global Warming Linked to Heightened Kidney Stone Risk
- Rainy Areas in U.S. Show Higher Autism Rates
- Preparing for a Chlorine Gas Disaster
- EYE CARE, VISION
- High Temps Degrade Contact Lens Solution: Study
- Antioxidant-Rich Diet May Protect Against Eye Disease
- Americans Losing Sight of Eye Health
- FITNESS
- Vigorous Exercise Can Cut Breast Cancer Risk
- Brisk Walk Can Help Leave Common Cold Behind
- Women Who Run May Benefit From Extra Folic Acid
- GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS
- Soothing Imagery May Help Rid Some Kids of Stomach Pain
- Gum Chewing May Speed Colon Surgery Recovery
- Intestinal Bacteria Trigger Immune Response
- GENERAL HEALTH
- The Brain Comes Alive With the Sounds of Music
- Adults Need To Get Thier Food Facts Straight
- Go To Work But Skip The Car
- HEAD & NECK
- Many Children Will Outgrow Headaches
- Zen May Thicken Brain, Thwart Pain
- Ski Helmets Encouraged for All
- HEALTH & TECHNOLOGY
- The Internet Is Becoming One-Stop Shopping for Health Help
- Airport Full Body Scanners Pose No Health Threat: Experts
- 'Comfort Dogs' Come to Emotional Rescue
- HEART & CARDIOVASCULAR
- Fondness for Fish Keeps Japanese Hearts Healthy
- Boosting Vitamin D Can Do a Heart Good
- Irregular Heartbeat Tied to Alzheimer's Disease
- INFECTIOUS DISEASE
- Surgical Masks Could Prevent Flu, Maybe
- Swine Flu Closes Three Schools in NYC
- More Medicinal Uses for Pomegranate
- KID'S HEALTH
- When It Comes to Toys, Shop Smart, Shop Safe
- Too Many Infants Short on Vitamin D
- Babies Who Eat Fish Lower Eczema Risk
- MEN'S HEALTH
- Whole Grains, Bran May Fight Hypertension in Men
- Sunlight May Help Protect Men From Kidney Cancer
- Lots of Sex May Prevent Erectile Dysfunction
- MENTAL HEALTH
- Mind Exercise Might Help Stroke Patients
- Estrogen May Help Men's Hearts
- Meaningful Conversations Boost Kids' Language Skills
- PREGNANCY
- Calcium Supplements Cut Blood Lead Levels During Pregnancy
- Placebo Acupuncture Tied to Higher IVF Pregnancies
- Sleeping Could Help Women Lose The Baby Fat
- SENIORS
- Older Adults May Have Some Immunity to Swine Flu
- Keeping Mentally Active Seems To Keep The Brain Active
- Martial Arts Training May Save Seniors' Hips
Certain Diabetes Drugs May Pose Eye Risk
By eHolistic.com Published: 04/07/2009
TUESDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- A class of diabetes drugs called glitazones are associated with an increased risk of a vision-threatening complication called diabetic macular edema (DME), which features swelling and fluid accumulation in the retina.
Glitazones are a newer class of diabetes drugs that includes medicines such as pioglitazone (Actos) and rosiglitazone (Avandia).
The U.S. study of 996 DME patients found that those who took glitazones were 2.6 times more likely to develop DME than those who didn't take the drugs. Even after adjusting for other factors, the risk of DME remained 60 percent higher for patients who took glitazones, said the researchers at the Southern California Permanente Medical Group.
The study, published in the April issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology, isn't the first to suggest a link between glitazones and DME. But it does confirm that the drugs are "modestly associated" with increased risk of DME, which is a common complication of diabetes.
"When treating patients with DME, ophthalmologists should consider the role of the glitazone class of drugs," the study authors concluded.
"Ocular (eye) complications are an overlooked safety issue of systemic drugs," noted Dr. Thomas J. Liesegang, editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Ophthalmology.
"Safety is as important as the efficacy of a drug. However, long-term safety is not currently monitored, because the approval process is based on smaller, shorter-term clinical trials. Safety necessarily requires monitoring of treatment in larger groups of people over longer periods of time. This monitoring is often neglected and should be required of all therapies," Liesegang said.
More information
The American Diabetes Association has more about diabetes-related eye complications.
-- Robert Preidt
SOURCE: Elsevier, news release, April 2, 2009
Last Updated: April 07, 2009
Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
More articles at www.eholistic.com
