Limited evidence for cranberries in UTIs, says DTB review
Cranberry-containing products cannot currently be recommended for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections in women, according to the latest Drug
and Therapeutics Bulletin review (2005;43:17).
It says that results of a meta-analysis of two trials involving 300 women
at risk of recurrent UTIs have suggested that cranberry products are
more effective than placebo in preventing recurrence of UTIs within 12
months from the start of treatment (relative risk 0.61, 95 per cent confidence
interval 0.40–0.91). However, it says that the therapy cannot be
recommended until the optimum dose regimen has been established and compared
with current prophylactic antibacterial therapy.
The DTB also says that there is no published evidence that cranberry
products prevent UTIs in other groups of people susceptible to infections,
such as people needing catheterisation. Furthermore, the DTB says that
there is no convincing published evidence to support the use of cranberry
in treating people with current UTIs.
TNF antagonists The DTB says that the long-term benefits and unwanted
effects of etanercept (Enbrel; Wyeth) and infliximab (Remicade; Schering-Plough)
are not known, and the two drugs have not been directly compared.
However, given the lack of alternative treatments it is reasonable
to offer these drugs to patients with moderate or severe ankylosing
spondylitis who have had an inadequate response to non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs, under specialist supervision and with appropriate
monitoring (ibid, 2005;43:19).
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