| Heparin is an anticoagulant (blood thinner). Medical | | | | • Diarrhea |
| professionals use it to prevent the formation of | | | | • Headaches |
| blood clots during kidney dialysis and for patients | | | | • A swollen throat and trouble with opening the |
| with severe heart problems such as: | | | | mouth |
| • Heart surgery with a cardiopulmonary | | | | Twenty-one people have died after being given |
| bypass | | | | Heparin, though it is not yet clear exactly how the |
| • Atrial fibrillation (a rapid and ineffective | | | | deaths were caused. |
| heartbeat) | | | | Chondroitin sulfate found |
| • Myocardial infarction (a heart attack) | | | | On March 19, the FDA announced that the |
| • Blood clots in veins | | | | contaminant was an altered form of Chondroitin |
| All has been well until recently. This past January, | | | | sulfate, which many people use for arthritis pain. It |
| a doctor in St. Louis, Missouri filed a report with | | | | is not known yet whether this ingredient was |
| the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | | | | inserted mischievously or by accident, but it is |
| (CDC) about two children on kidney dialysis. They | | | | known to function as a cheap filler. |
| were having severe problems and this | | | | Baxter has done tests and found that the heparin |
| doctor’s team traced them to the Heparin. | | | | ingredients from China were contaminated before |
| They found it to be contaminated. | | | | they reached the Chinese plant which sells them |
| When this report became known in the medical | | | | to Baxter. Their investigators are trying to obtain |
| community, 448 more reports were soon | | | | access to this plant and to the local family |
| submitted describing similar situations with adults | | | | workshops where a heparin ingredient is made |
| on dialysis. On January 25, Baxter International, | | | | from pig intestines. It is known that pig diseases |
| the company marketing Heparin, announced the | | | | were reducing the supplies of intestines for these |
| recall of some of its Heparin lots. At the end of | | | | workshops, and perhaps diseased intestines were |
| February, the FDA announced a recall of many | | | | used. |
| remaining Heparin lots, although not the entire | | | | This story will no doubt continue in the news for |
| spectrum of Heparin products. | | | | some time yet, until the whole puzzle is solved. |
| Heparin Reactions | | | | Meanwhile, if you or a loved one have been given |
| • Decreased blood pressure | | | | Heparin and suffered a bad reaction, be sure and |
| • Chest pain and a fast heart rate | | | | speak with your doctor. Our office can help on |
| • Dizziness and fainting | | | | the legal side, as we are familiar with defective |
| • Stomach pain, nausea and vomiting | | | | drug situations and know how to navigate through |
| • Shortness of breath | | | | them to your benefit. |
| • Flushing and sweating | | | | |