The Ministry of Health and Community Protection has warned of potential health risks to two medicines used to treat cancerous diseases, obligated manufacturers to add preventive warnings to them, and decided to withdraw a medical method for treating blood vessels.
In detail, the Ministry of Health and Community Protection issued a circular addressed to all health facilities and health care practitioners in the private health sector, through which it warns of the possibility of lung diseases through the use of the medical preparation Hydrea hydroxyurea, noting that this drug is used in conjunction with radiation therapy in the treatment of cell cancer The primary skin squamous head, neck, excluding the lips.
The Ministry indicated in its circular that an update has been added to the internal leaflet of this drug, as the content of skin cancer treatment has been removed from an indication for clinical use of this drug, pointing out that responses to Hydrea in the treatment of chronic resistant myeloid leukemia have been reported.
The ministry stated that lung diseases, including pulmonary fibrosis, lung infiltration, pneumonia, and alveoli in the lungs have been reported to patients treated with Hydrea for proliferative leukemia.
The Ministry recommended that patients suffering from fever, cough, shortness of breath and other respiratory symptoms be monitored, investigated and treated closely. Hydroxyurea should be discontinued immediately.
In addition, the ministry added a warning to the medical product Opdivo (nivolumab), used to treat specific types of cancer in conjunction with the immune system, as warnings and precautions for the drug have been updated, to include additional guidance on monitoring and testing (nivolumab) and management of myocarditis, when used alone or In conjunction with.
The Ministry recommended that cases of myocarditis be reported, some with fatal outcomes in conjunction with Opdivo or Opdivo Yervoy, given that some cases may be asymptomatic, and the diagnosis of myocarditis requires a high indication.
Patients with cardiovascular symptoms should also undergo a rapid diagnostic examination of myocarditis with close monitoring. In case of suspected myocarditis, a high dose of steroids should be taken, and a cardiologist consulted, with diagnostic work, which may include MRI of the heart.
Withdrawal of medical operations
The Ministry of Health and Community Protection has requested the concerned and competent authorities to withdraw the operations of the medical device Langston Dual Lumen Catheter, if available in the market, due to the seriousness of its use.
The ministry explained in a circular that this method is used as a catheter for the rapid delivery of contrast material into the patient's blood vessels during medical imaging tests, to allow doctors to see the internal structures in the body, and also measure the internal pressure in the blood vessels.
It stated that there is a voluntary withdrawal from the manufacturer, because the risk of part of the catheter may separate during use, which may cause serious health conditions, including additional surgical procedures to remove the separate section, vascular damage or death.
The ministry explained that if the inner catheter separated outside the patient's body, this may lead to spray contrast material or dye to the doctor, and thus the transmission of infection to it, noting that the product is not registered in the ministry's drug administration.
The Ministry recommended monitoring patients with fever, cough and shortness of breath.
• In case of suspected myocarditis, a high dose of steroids should be taken, and consult a doctor.