title: [Pharmacovigilance and teratovigilance 2008].
abstract: Various signals and alerts of pharmacovigilance were issued in 2008. Frequent neuropsychiatric adverse events are reported with varenicline and rimonabant and the marketing authorization of the latter has been suspended. Ezetimibe/simvastatin combination is suspected of causing cancer while it's clinical utility remains to be proved. Neuroleptics, typical and atypical, are associated with an increased risk of death in elderly with dementia. Safety is a concern with various biological drugs. Rituximab, natalizumab and efalizumab are involved in rare cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy with fatal issue. Screening of HLA-B*5701, a good predictor of hypersensitivity reaction to abacavir, is recommended prior to starting therapy. Mycophenolate turns out to be a human teratogen.
authors.affiliation: Division de pharmacologie et toxicologie cliniques, Département de medecine, CHUV, 1011 Lausanne. francoise.livio@chuv.ch
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Livio
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ivanyuk
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Biollaz
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing