The novel Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor ruxolitinib relieves myelofibrosis symptoms, but withdrawal from the drug can be severe, researchers warned. Serious adverse events requiring hospitalization occurred during drug discontinuation in at least 11% of patients, Ayalew Tefferi, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and colleagues found…This long-term follow-up of 51 Mayo Clinic patients receiving the drug in a larger phase I/II study was reported in a letter published in the Oct. 13 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

MedPage Today,  by Crystal Phend, 10/14/11

Tags: Rheumatology