Month: March 2013

Changing the test used for pregnancy diabetes could diagnose more women. However, an expert panel is urging caution. About 5% of pregnant U.S. women are diagnosed with gestational (pregnancy) diabetes. This problem usually goes away after the birth. However, it can cause problems, such as an increase in larger babies and cesarean section deliveries. These mothers also are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Diagnosis allows for treatment with diet, exercise and sometimes medicines. The most common test used in the United States is a two-step process. But the American Diabetes Association supports a one-step test. This test also lowers the blood sugar level required for diagnosis. The National Institutes of Health gathered a group of experts this week to look at the issue. They supported keeping the two-step test for now.

Powerful new medicines used to suppress the immune system don’t increase the risk of the skin disease shingles, a study finds. People who have had chickenpox can develop shingles. The virus that causes chickenpox stays hidden in the body. If it becomes active again, it can cause shingles. The study focused on people with autoimmune diseases. These diseases are caused by an attack of the immune system on part of the body. Examples include rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. The newest medicines for some of these conditions are called anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs. They suppress the immune system. As a result, they can increase the risk of some infections. The new study looked at records for about 60,000 people with autoimmune diseases. It compared shingles rates for those who took anti-TNF drugs and those who took other drugs.

Some medicines can reduce symptoms in 60% of people with restless legs syndrome, a review of prior research finds. People with restless legs syndrome feel a need to move their legs, partly to relieve discomfort in the legs. The new study combined results of 29 prior studies. They looked at results of drug treatment in people with moderate or severe restless legs syndrome. People took various drugs. Two groups of drugs produced the best results. Medicines in one group are known as dopamine agonists. They include carbidopa/levodopa (Sinemet), pramipexole (Mirapex) and ropinirole (Requip). The other group of drugs includes gabapentin (Neurontin and generics), pregabalin (Lyrica) and carbamazepine (Tegretol and generics). Both types of drugs improved symptoms by at least half in about 61% of patients. About 40% of those who got placebo (fake) pills reported similar relief.