Keep abreast of what your patients are currently seeing in the media with our round-up of popular news stories, available from WHF as abstracts with links to the full-text articles.


From the week of January 14, 2008:

Drug Approved. Is Disease Real?

Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by chronic widespread pain, affecting between 2% and 4% of US adults, primarily middle-aged women. Pfizer is currently airing a national television advertising campaign for Lyrica®, the first drug to be approved by the FDA for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Lyrica binds to receptors in the brain and spinal cord and affects the perception of pain in fibromyalgia sufferers. However, the medication comes with warnings of serious side effects including severe weight gain, dizziness, and edema. While proponents of the sydrome hail the drug as both a major step forward in dealing with chronic pain and in legitimizing fibromyalgia as a disease, the commercials for Lyrica have reopened a debate over whether the condition is real. Critics of fibromyalgia stigmatize sufferers as chronic complainers, whereas specialists in its treatment point to evidence from brain scans that people diagnosed with fibromyalgia process pain differently. Fibromyalgia is recognized as a diagnosable syndrome by the American College of Rheumatology, the Food and Drug Administration, and various insurance companies.

Read the full story on nytimes.com

Calcium Supplements Could Raise Heart Risks in Postmenopausal Women

A recent study conducted at the University of Auckland in New Zealand has found that calcium supplements, taken by millions of postmenopausal women to fight osteoporosis, may be contributing to an increased risk for cardiovascular trouble. In a study of 1471 postmenopausal women with an average age of 74, women taking calcium tablets were found to have a 47% higher risk of experiencing a heart attack, stroke, or sudden death than the women taking a placebo. Calcium is considered an important supplement for postmenopausal women, who are at an increased risk for bone fracture, and the research has been met with mixed reactions from the medical community. Some doctors have expressed concern over the study results and are reconsidering prescribing calcium to their patients, especially as a proactive measure. Others believe the positive effects of calcium on bone strength outweigh the increased cardiovascular risk. Women should discuss the merits and drawbacks of taking calcium supplements with their individual healthcare providers.

Read the full story on healthday.com

Bio-Identicals: Sorting Myths from Facts

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is a marketing term used to sell pills, creams, lotions, and gels to women to relieve the symptoms of menopause. These products are not approved by the FDA, but they are marketed as an all-natural alternative to FDA-approved drugs for menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). While MHT drugs have been proven to combat hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and bone thinning, BHRT products are not regulated by the FDA and may make unfounded claims pertaining to their effectiveness. The FDA is taking action against pharmacies that make false claims about the BHRT products they sell, and advises consumers to stay informed about BHRT and MHT products. For all hormone therapy, the FDA recommends using the lowest effective dosage for the shortest time needed.

Read the full story on fda.gov

HRT Raises Risk of Lobular Breast Cancer

A new study has found that hormone replacement therapy raises the risk of lobular breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Lobular breast cancer grows in the areas of the breast that contain milk-producing glands and accounts for only about 15% of all cancers, compared with ductal cancer which makes up roughly 70% of all cases. Women using combined estrogen and progestin hormone therapy were found to have a nearly 300% increased risk of lobular cancer, but only a 40% increase in their risk for ductal cancer. Research showing a link between HRT and breast cancer was first published in 2003, yet roughly 57 million prescriptions for menopausal HRT are still filled each year in the US. Doctors recommend that hormone replacement therapy be used in the lowest effective dose and for the shortest period of time possible in order to combat the elevated risk of breast cancer.

Read the full story on healthday.com