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 abacavir |
| Ziagen |
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Pharmaceutical
company:
GlaxoSmithKline
www.gsk.com |
NEW WARNING
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning about serious and sometimes fatal hypersensitivity reactions caused by abacavir (Ziagen). These reactions are more common in patients with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele, HLA-B*5701. The hypersensitivity reaction is a multiple-organ-dysfunction syndrome characterized by two or more clinical findings such as fever, rash, or GI, respiratory, and systemic symptoms. New prescribing information recommends screening for the HLA-B*5701 allele in all patients before beginning or restarting therapy. Patients who test positive for the HLA-B*5701 allele shouldn't receive abacavir unless the benefit outweighs the potential risk. Patients who experience a hypersensitivity reaction should discontinue the drug immediately and never restart it; severe hypotension and death may occur.
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