The drug Gleevec is a successful treatment for chronic myelogenous leukemia. However, a study led by Dr. Thomas Force of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, indicates that the drug may be linked to damage to the heart muscle. According to the study, several patients with normal heart function when starting to take Gleevec, developed congestive heart failure between one and 14 months after beginning treatment. The researchers characterized Gleevec as a “wonderful drug,” but believe that patients using the drug should be monitored closely to detect signs of heart failure.
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