If you have undergone tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy with Tasigna to treat chronic myeloid leukemia and subsequently suffered cardiovascular issues, you could be eligible to participate in this Tasigna (nilotinib) investigation.

Patients with chronic myeloid leukemia who are treated with Tasigna should be aware of the their alleged increased risk of atherosclerosis, the condition that can cause peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Atherosclerosis means the arteries swell, which causes the restriction of blood flow to the arms, legs, heart, brain and other part of the body. This restricted circulation can lead to severe cardiovascular issues, amputations, and even, death.

According to a study published by the Journal of Clinical Oncology and reported on the National Institutes of Health website, 11 of 179 patients developed PAD involving their lower limbs.

Of those patients that developed the condition, the researchers said, “[m]ost striking was the severity of the PAD.”

Eight of those patients needed invasive therapy, such as angioplasty and stent implantation, and four required amputations.

Symptoms of PAD most often affect the legs, but also can cause problems with the arms, stomach or head. Patients developing PAD are apt to notice a cramping or tiredness in leg or hip muscles upon walking or star climbing. The symptoms stop when the patient rests, but return upon further activity.

Risks of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Therapy

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy is a type of cancer treatment that identifies and attacks certain kinds of cancer cells, but does little damage to normal cells. In chronic myeloid leukemia patients, tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy targets the abnormal protein that causes chronic myeloid leukemia cells to grow and blocks that protein from performing. This leads to the death of chronic myeloid leukemia cells.

According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) website, patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy might develop serious cardiac side effects, such as congestive heart failure or changes in the heartbeat’s rhythm, a condition known as QT interval prolongation.

“Patients with a history of cardiac disease or peripheral vascular disease need to be monitored carefully and frequently during tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment,” says the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The LLS also warns that serious or possibly lethal interaction are possible with tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy and over-the-counter medicines, nutritional supplements and certain foods. Corticosteroids, anti-seizure prescription medicines, antacids, and the herbal supplement St. John’s Wort can interfere with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy’s effectiveness. At the same time, tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy levels in the blood can raise to unsafe numbers when some antibiotics, antifungal medicines, and grapefruit are ingested.

If you have suffered any of the following side effects after undergoing tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy, you could qualify to participate in this Tasigna investigation:

• Atherosclerosis
• Peripheral arterial disease
• Coronary artery disease
• Circulation problems in the arms, legs, heart or brain
• Embolic occlusion
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Infection
• Amputation
• Death

A tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy lawsuit could allow you to receive compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, wrongful death and other unplanned and devastating experiences you’ve endured.