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Adverse Heparin Reactions: Symptoms and Sife Effects October 14, 2008 In February, Baxter International Inc. announced that they were proceeding with the voluntary recall of remaining lots and doses of its heparin sodium injection multi-dose, single-dose vials and HEP-LOCK heparin flush products. This followed an initial recall In January. Contaminated heparin has also been found in association with some medical devices, such as certain catheters. Some of these medical devices have been recalled. Heparin is one of the oldest drugs, having been developed in 1916. It is widely used as an injectible anti-coagulant. It can also be used to form an anti-coagulant surface on various medical devices such as test tubes and dialysis machines. A serious side-effect of heparin is heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT syndrome). HITS is caused by an immunological reaction that makes platelets a target of immunological response, resulting in the degradation of platelets. This is what causes thrombocytopenia. This condition is usually reversed on discontinuation, and can generally be avoided with the use of synthetic heparins. There is also a benign form of thrombocytopenia associated with early heparin use, which resolves without stopping heparin. Rarer side-effects include alopecia and osteoporosis with chronic use. As with many drugs, overdoses of heparin can be fatal. In September 2006, heparin received worldwide publicity when 3 prematurely-born infants died after they were mistakenly given overdoses of heparin at an Indianapolis hospital. Serious injuries and deaths have been associated with the use of heparin, a blood-thinning drug that contained active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) from China. Nearly all reported adverse reactions have occurred in three specific areas of product use – renal dialysis, invasive cardiovascular procedures and apheresis procedures. Reported adverse patient reactions have included:
Some of these reactions, particularly profound and refractory hypotension, may be severe or life-threatening. On the web: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heparin http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/heparin This information about the heparin catastrophe is provided by Attorney Gordon Johnson, in conjunction with the Nolan Law Group of Chicago, IL. The Johnson Law Office is affiliated with The Nolan Law Group on Heparin litigation. The Nolan Law Group is presently involved in the litigation on behalf of those affected by the distribution of contaminated heparin. Next: Drug stayed on hospital shelves despite recall For information on the recall, click here: To contact us, call 800-992-9447. Gordon Johnson is the Owner of the Johnson Law Office.
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