FDA: 103 deaths may be heparin linked
The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday said more than 100 patients have died while taking the blood thinner heparin since early 2007.
The agency has been investigating contamination of heparin made by the manufacturer Baxter International Inc., which it linked to 19 deaths and hundreds of allergic reactions.
New data posted to the FDA’s Web site shows the agency has received 103 reports of death with heparin made by various manufacturers since January 2007.
FDA recorded a spike in deaths beginning in December 2007 and continuing through February this year, when Baxter recalled its contaminated product payday loan.
FDA said about 40% of the deaths were associated with allergic reactions and that the remaining deaths showed no evidence of allergic reactions.
For both 2006 and 2007 FDA received 55 reports of death with the blood thinner.
A Baxter (BAX, Fortune 500) representative was not immediately available for comment.
An FDA spokeswoman said the agency decided to release the additional numbers on heparin deaths at the request of consumers.