After a systematic review of the literature on the subject, these researchers from the University of Manchester reveal previously poorly documented toxic effects on the lungs and drugs commonly used to treat common ailments. Effects on the lungs much more widespread than we think, according to these conclusions presented in the Journal of Clinical Medicine - of research carried out as part of a large European program for the "management of drug-induced interstitial lung disease” (DIILD).
The researchers reviewed the effects of 27 drugs treating various pathologies, including arthritis, cancer and the heart, and whose effectiveness, it must be said, is not called into question for most patients. But the message is clear, both patients and doctors should be better informed and more aware of the possible risks of these treatments for the respiratory system.
The Manchester researchers, together with their colleagues in Leeds and Sheffield, NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Royal United Hospital NHS Foundation Trust examined data from a total of 6,200 patients, who had taken part in 156 studies. These deleterious effects, which result in breathing difficulties or disorders, inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis, generally only appear after using the drugs for several years. According to the researchers,
- they would nevertheless represent between 4.1 and 12.4 million cases each year in the world;
- 3-5% of all cases of interstitial lung disease (or diffuse parenchymal lung disease) characterized by the deterioration of cells in the air sacs;
- mortality rates greater than 50% reported in some studies with a death rate from respiratory symptoms of up to 25%.
Side effects on the lungs much more common than previously thought: While steroids are the most common drugs used to treat these cases of drug-induced lung disease, there are no studies looking at their effect on the lungs. results. In short, drug-induced lung disease has not been the subject of much research to date, but at the end of this review, the authors warn of adverse effects on the lungs that are much more widespread than we didn't think so.
“ We now know that this affects a considerable number of patients, which is why we want to develop better imaging tests to detect any lung problem before it becomes serious. It remains important to emphasize that patients can continue to take their treatments safely, but it is also essential that doctors closely monitor and assess side and toxic effects on the lungs .”
