Arthritis drugs increase cancer risk in children

In Washington, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the public that misused and high-intakes of drugs used to treat arthritis and other inflammatory diseases can pose higher risk of cancer among children and adolescents.

According to FDA scientists the drugs, after 2 1/2 years of continuous use, appears to increase the risk of cancer. In their study, the FDA scrutinized several dozens of cancer cases in children taking various inflammatory drugs and found out that half of those cases were lymphomas, a cancer that attacks the immune system and some of which were fatal. The drugs known as tumor necrosis factor are prescribed to children with rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disorder and Crohn's disease. Meanwhile, the FDA gave warning on the five tumor necrosis factor drugs sold in the U.S. by Abbott Laboratories' Humira, Johnson & Johnson's Remicade and Simponi, and Enbrel. The manufacturers consequently assured that they will coordinate with the FDA accordingly to ensure the health of the patients.