January 26, 2006

Heart Surgery Drug Aprotinin Doubles a Patient's Risk of Kidney Failure

A popular drug given to more than a million people since 1993 to limit blood loss during heart surgery doubles a patient's risk of kidney failure and substantially increases the risk of a heart attack, a major study has found.

The research, being published today in the New England Journal of Medicine with a supportive editorial and commentary, concluded that use of the drug -- Bayer Corp.'s aprotinin -- causes more than 11,000 patients worldwide to need kidney dialysis each year. (Washington Post)

Posted by news editor | Filed under: Heart Bypass Surgery