Heparin Lawsuit and Side
Effect Information

Heparin lawsuits have been filed as the result of dangerous Heparin side effects. If you have suffered injuries due to Herparin, consider contacting an attorney about filing a Heparin lawsuit. Recently, dangerous Heparin side effects have cropped up in a batch made in China and a another US based plant.

Heparin Overview

Dr. Charles H. Best is best known for his work in discovering insulin, but he also played a key role in the history of Heparin through work done at the Connaught Laboratory in Canada. Heparin was discovered in 1916 at Johns Hopkins University, but no one seemed to know what to do with it until Dr. Best stepped in.

In 1930 Heparin was in limited supply and was derived from dog's liver, a none too effective or safe substance. Best wanted to make a purified and cheap supply safe for humans. He turned to using beef liver until dog food manufacturers drove the price up. Their next batches of Heparin were derived from beef lung and intestines. By 1934 Best and his team had purified and crystallized Heparin into a dry form. In 1935 it was used in human trials.

Today Heparin is still in use for surgery and blood clot therapy. It is manufactured generically by Baxter HealthCare Corp and at least 10 other major drug companies worldwide. It's only the Heparin produced by Baxter (who produces half the Heparin sold in the US), that's targeted for Heparin lawsuits after reports of serious allergic reactions and several deaths.

Baxter's multi-dose injectable form has been temporarily suspended causing fears of a Heparin shortage in the US. The adverse reaction reports received by the FDA indicate the reported deaths occurred at hemodialysis centers and involved patients who received a high dose (bolus) over a short period of time.

Heparin Side Effects and Other Problems

The Heparin side effects noted with Baxter Heparin include vomiting, falling blood pressure (inducing shock), nausea and labored breathing. Evidently the reactions have been at varied doses ranging from several thousand units/mL to 50,000 units/mL.

When told about the problems, Baxter started a voluntary recall of what they thought were affected lots. The problem turned out to be in more than just a few lots and all production was ceased. More than one million multiple dose vials of this anticoagulant are sold every month.

Baxter Heparin that was already in hospitals and clinics was not recalled, which seems odd since the whole manufacturing process involved with Baxter's Heparin has been called into question. How the FDA considers this to be better for the public health is questionable. Lawyers filing Heparin lawsuits are repeatedly asking this question.

The FDA subsequently found out that a heparin-like chemical might be the contaminant in Baxter Heparin. The contaminant is a large complex molecule that's chemically similar to Heparin and was found in samples from a Chinese and US plant owned by Baxter's supplier, Scientific Protein Laboratories. The China connection brings to mind the contaminated dog food scandal of a few years ago. No one knows how this chemical got into the Heparin.

Other Heparin side effects include Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT) and Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis (HITT). For HITT the effects include deep vein thrombosis, stroke, heart attack, cerebral vein thrombosis, limb ischemia, skin necrosis, renal aterial thrombosis, mesenteric thrombosis, gangrene of the extremities and possible death.

Lawsuits of note against Baxter HealthCare Corp. have been and are for:

* Dialyzers Class Action Lawsuit - dialyzers used in kidney dialysis caused deaths due to the perfluorohydrocarbon based fluid used in making it. All manufacturing ceased.
* Heparin Overdose - mistaken identity between bottles of Heparin of 10 units/mL and 10,000 units/mL causing death, brain bleeding, possible brain damage.
* Croatia Class Action Lawsuits - dialyzers
* Infusion Pump Lawsuits - All sales stopped in 2005 due to battery problems, electronic failures, software glitches etc. Drastically affected patients receiving drugs - serious injury or death.
* Meridian Dialysis Machines Lawsuit - tubing kinked
* Latex Gloves Lawsuit - latex related dermatitis and allergy leading to anaphylactic shock
* Hemophilia Lawsuit - that Baxter sold blood factor products contaminated with HIV and Hepatitis C.
* Israel Lawsuits - handed $20 million fine for illegally sharing business information with Arab countries

Heparin Lawsuits

It appears that Baxter is still manufacturing single dose vials of Heparin and advising doctors to administer it carefully. Whether or not that addresses patients' health care concerns is questionable.

If you have suffered grave harm from Heparin side effects, or have lost a loved one and wish to file a Heparin lawsuit, ask a knowledgeable attorney for assistance in filing a claim.




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