CBCLON.RADIO wrote:
>
> I am a 37-year-old hairy cell leukaemia patient about to undergo a course of the purine
> nucleoside analog 2CDA (Cladribine or Leustatin). I have been told that the drug is
> unlikely to cause infertility or mutations in future foetuses, but as there is no data
> available, I would be extremely interested to hear from anyone with personal experience
> in this area.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Regards,
>
> Rebecca Penrose
Hi Rebecca,
Below is an excerpt from a document on MS Facts. It tells just a little
about the two drugs you mentioned. It also has a phone number where you
can get info on the side effects. It would be worth checking it out.
Jo
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Cladribine: Currently at Scripps Institute of LaJolla, California, a
study on the drug Cladribine also
known as 2-CDA is being conducted for MS persons who are chronic
progressive. The FDA already
approved this drug for a particular type of leukemia. Cladribine
was found to reduce the number of
lymphocytes in a completed study of 50 chronic-progressive MS
patients. Scripps stated that in some
cases they saw a slowing of progression while in other cases there
was a halt of progression of MS.
Leustatin: (aka Cladribine, 2-CdA) is an immunosuppressant being studied
for use with chronic
progressive MS. A previous study of this drug at Scripps Institute
(LaJolla, CA) showed a stabilization
of disease progression in those with chronic-progressive MS. The
current double-blind study is taking
place at six clinical centers in the United States. Possible side
effects as well as toxicity will be
addressed. Additional information may be obtained by contacting
Ortho Biotech, Inc. (NJ) at
1-800-998-6098.
