Raptiva brain damage attorneys have continued to see new causes of the drug’s side effects. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently recalled the popular psoriasis drug Raptiva because it was linked to progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, a debilitating condition, which causes deterioration of the nervous system and irreversible brain damage. This is often fatal and so far three Raptiva patients have reportedly died as a result of these serious drug side effects.

What is PML? According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), PML is caused by the reactivation of a common virus in the central nervous system in patients with weakened immune systems. The symptoms of PML are the result of an infection that causes the loss of white matter, which is made up of myelin, a substance that surrounds and protects the nerve fibers in multiple areas of the brain. Without the protection of myelin, nerve signals cannot travel successfully from the brain to the rest of the body.

Raptiva Symptoms

Some of the typical symptoms associated with PML are:

• Progressive weakness
• Visual, speech and personality changes
• Clumsiness

The progression of this condition leads to life-threatening disability and death over weeks to months. A positive diagnosis of PML can be made on brain biopsy. Currently, the best available treatment for PML is reversal of the immune-deficient states. This can sometimes be accomplished by chemotherapy or immunosuppression. The prognosis for PML patients remains grim. The disease usually lasts for months and 80 percent die within the first six months. Those who survive with PML can be left with severe neurological disabilities.

Rapitva Patients Report Side Effects

A number of Raptiva patients are increasingly reporting side effects and symptoms that signify the early stages of PML. Genentech, the manufacturer of Raptiva, knew about the risks as a result of tests performed in Europe, but chose not to release that information in the United States. As a result, thousands of innocent American consumers are suffering these serious, sometimes fatal, Raptiva side effects.

If you or a loved one is suffering from these horrific side effects, or if you have Raptiva-induced PML or brain damage, please contact Bisnar | Chase to find out more information about your legal rights and options. We will not only provide you with information, but also put on a list to receive updated Raptiva recall information as it becomes available.