Some patients with primary immune deficiency are injected with intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) every 3-4 weeks. Now a subcutaneous immune globulin (SCIG) has also been approved in the US for this indication (Vivaglobin - CSL Behring). SCIG has been used in Europe for about 10 years.

Mecasermin (Increlex - Tercica), which is injected subcutaneously, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of growth failure in children with severe primary insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) deficiency. Mecasermin is recombinant human (rh) IGF-1. It has also been approved to treat children with short stature who are deficient in growth hormone (GH), but have developed neutralizing antibodies in response to GH treatment. A similar product, mecasermin rinfabate (Iplex - Insmed), that was approved by the FDA for the same indications was withdrawn from the market due to patent...

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which was traditionally a nosocomially-acquired organism but now frequently occurs in the absence of healthcare exposure, is the predominant cause of suppurative skin and soft-tissue infections in many parts of the US. Community-associated MRSA usually causes furunculosis, purulent cellulitis, and abscesses, but necrotizing fasciitis, necrotizing pneumonia, and sepsis can also occur.

The FDA has approved a new formulation of carbidopa/levodopa (Rytary – Impax) in extended-release capsules for treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Givinostat (Duvyzat – Italfarmaco), an oral histone deacetylase inhibitor, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of patients ≥6 years old with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), regardless of the DMD-causing mutation. It is the first nonsteroidal drug to be approved for this indication. The oral corticosteroids deflazacort (Emflaza) and vamorolone (Agamree) are also approved for treatment of patients with all genetic variants of DMD.

Many drugs can cause psychiatric symptoms, but a causal connection is often difficult to establish. Psychiatric symptoms that emerge during drug treatment could also be due to the underlying illness, previously unrecognized psychopathology, or psychosocial factors. The withdrawal of some drugs can cause symptoms such as anxiety, psychosis, delirium, agitation or depression.

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Nabilone (Cesamet - Lilly), a synthetic cannabinoid chemically related to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active ingredient in marijuana, was recently marketed in the USA for oral treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy. Oral THC itself, known generically as dronabinol (Marinol), is also commercially available as an antiemetic for cancer patients (Medical Letter, 27:97, 1985). Other drugs used for this purpose include metoclopramide (Reglan - Medical Letter, 24:67, 1982), prochlorperazine (Compazine; and others), haloperidol (Haldol; and others), and...

Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (Cipro - Miles), a synthetic antibacterial agent, was recently marketed in the USA for oral treatment of a wide variety of infections. Ciprofloxacin is the second fluoroquinolone to become available in this country; norfloxacin (Noroxin - Medical Letter, 29:25, 1987) is marketed only for treatment of urinary tract infections. Fluoroquinolones are more potent and have a much broader spectrum of activity than older quinolones such as nalidixic acid (NegGram).

Fluconazole (Diflucan - Roerig), an antifungal azole, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for oral and intravenous (IV) treatment of cryptococcal meningitis and various forms of candidiasis. Both cryptococcal meningitis and candidiasis occur frequently in patients with AIDS, organ transplants, or cancer.

With the deployment of hundreds of thousands of troops in Saudi Arabia, health problems endemic to the Arabian Peninsula may be coming to the attention of physicians in the USA and other areas.