[indices] Cellcept and flying [6]

["Kae Ting Trouilloud" <kaecherie@yahoo.co.uk>]

Dear Lee,

Because of confidentiality restrictions, I have had to remove the name of
the medical officer of an airline who replied to my query. This is his
response:
 
"As you know, fitness to fly is based on an overall risk assessment of both
the pilot's illness and any medication they might be taking for it.
Sometimes, people get hung up on the medication aspect alone and speak of
"banned" or "acceptable" meds. There are some absolutes (for instance,
pilots cannot fly on tricyclic antidepressants anywhere in the world, even
if the drug is prescribed for a condition other than depression) but more
commonly the whole picture is required and not just the drug aspect.
 
Taking renal transplantation as an example, pilots would normally be
grounded for a year to assure stability, both of the graft and to make sure
there were no complications or drug side effects that might affect flying.
Regular follow-up, including surveillance for the increased risk of
cardiovascular disease, would be needed. If the pilot is considered fit to
return to flying, they would have an operational multicrew restriction ("as
or with qualified copilot only") for commercial licensing to ensure they did
not operate solo.
 
The [aviation committee] has not yet dealt with a transplant case on
CellCept, and hopefully by the time it does the literature on this agent and
aeromedical certification will be much clearer!
 
Best regards
 
Dr R C
Senior Medical Officer - Aviation Medicine"

So I'm afraid we do not seem to have more detail, and your patient will have
to be content with the response of his aviation committee. He can perhaps
make another appeal later with his doctor's support? 

Best regards,

Kae

Kae Ting Trouilloud, Pharmacist/Editor of the mercy ships formulary