Government
FDA: 62 deaths linked to heparin use
By Ben Wasserman
Apr 8, 2008 - 5:42:21 PM

TUESDAY April 8, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- The Food and Drug Administration Tuesday said the number of deaths associated with use of heparin is 62, tripling the number early reported.

It was early reported that 19 deaths were associated with use of heparin, which triggered the manufacturer, Baxter International to recall all brands of heparin.

Reuters cited Baxter spokeswoman Erin Gardiner as saying that the company believes four deaths may be linked to its heparin.   APP Pharmaceuticals said none of the 62 deaths cited by the FDA was associated with its brand of heparin.

The FDA found 103 reports of patients who died while taking heparin after reviewing adverse events back to 2007, according to the Associated Press.

Of those deaths, 62 involved allergic reactions or hypotension, which are the same side effects that prompted Baxter to withdraw all U.S. heparin injections from the market in February.