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VIDEO: Biologics and infection: It is the disease – not the drugs
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Iris Zink, MSN, RN, ANP-BC, RN-BC, president of the Rheumatology Nurses Society and from Lansing Rheumatology, discussed the risk of infection and the use of biologics for patients with rheumatic diseases.
“Patients are frequently asking questions about their medications. Fear, misconception and direct-to-consumer marketing is making the job of the rheumatology health care provider more difficult. Frequently patients are so desperate to feel better that they willingly go on a biologic. Six months later they start listening to friends, family members and the media and they may stop their medication out of fear,” she told Healio Rheumatology.
She said that rheumatology health care providers have seen a dramatic change in rheumatology in the last 20 years and the biologic drugs have provided the tools to prevent the diseases from becoming a life sentence of disability.
“Serious infections have and can occur. We need to own the drug and educate patients. We need to reinforce the message about the dangers of the disease,” she said.
Before the biologics, she said there was a 3% to 9% risk of infection from just having rheumatoid arthritis and the risk of infections on tumor-necrosis factor inhibitors was higher in patients who have Crohn’s disease or patients who are on more than 5 mg of daily prednisone, Zink said.
“Poorly controlled autoimmune disease is lethal. Patients with high levels of inflammation are at high risk of lymphoma, infections, cancers and cardiovascular disease. Rheumatoid arthritis left untreated is like leaving cancer untreated. It is dangerous and irresponsible. We must give our patients the best care, educate them about the risks of the disease and the benefits and risks of the medications. Be there for them and take responsibility for safe administration and drug monitoring,” she said. – by Kristine Houck, ELS
References:
Zink I. Infectious disease.
Cush JJ. Adverse drug effects with novel agents and biologics. Presented at: Clinical Congress of Rheumatology; April 27-30,2017; Destin, Florida.
Disclosure: Zink reports she is a speaker for Crescendo BioScience, Bristol-Myers Squibb and AbbVie.