Patients in Germany sickened by heparin
Illnesses reportedly caused by different brand than one linked to 19 deaths
Health care videos |
Public option advocates outraged Dec. 10: The Interview: Dr. Howard Dean, former DNC chair, addresses progressive outrage over the demise of the public option and explains the potential political repercussions for Democrats facing a disillusioned progressive base. |
INTERACTIVE |
Dose of reality Do health care reform headlines leave you saying “huh?” Visit msnbc.com's guide to health reform and send us claims you'd like fact-checked. |
updated 5:21 p.m. ET March 6, 2008
WASHINGTON - Dialysis patients in Germany have gotten sick using a different brand of the blood thinner heparin than was linked to 19 American deaths, sparking U.S. concern that the problem could run deeper than originally believed.
As a result of the German illnesses, the Food and Drug Administration is urging all U.S. suppliers of heparin to start using some special high-tech tests to make sure their products are free of a contaminant that is the prime suspect for hundreds of allergic-type reactions linked to Baxter International's U.S.-sold heparin injections.
Baxter gets its main heparin ingredient from China.
On Thursday, Germany recalled heparin made by a German company that uses a different supplier than Baxter.
Click for related content
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
-
Rate Story:
View popularLowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM HEALTH CARE |
| Add Health care headlines to your news reader: |
Resource guide


