Two New Patient Deaths Prompt Heparin Review

New York, NYTwo people are dead and a third has suffered 'medical problems' this weekend after taking heparin, the Wall Street Journal is reporting. The heparin was manufactured by Baxter, and the deaths have raised concern of a possible re-emergence of tainted product, similar to the heparin contamination in 2008. However, so far there is no evidence connecting the deaths to the blood thinner.

The 2 patients who died were from Delaware, and reportedly suffered intercranial bleeding. In 2008, the heparin was tainted with oversulfated chondroitin sulphate, which caused allergic reactions and cardiac problems, and was associated with nearly 80 deaths. So the incidences that occurred over the weekend are not the same as those seen in 2008.

The heparin reportedly comes from a North American source, not China. And importantly, according to media reports, no oversulfated chondroitin sulphate has so far been found in the heparin used on the weekend.

The concern around the heparin stems from reports that it is the only common factor among all 3 patients, said Wallace Hudson, a spokesperson for Beebe Medical Center, where the patients were being treated.

Erin Gardiner, a spokesperson for Baxter told the Wall Street Journal that the company has no indication of a current spike in adverse events associated with the heparin, whereas in 2008, a spike did occur. Ms. Gardiner told the Journal that the heparin used this year was in pre-mixed bags. In 2008, the problems arose from heparin used from bulk supplies, vials, and in drug-coated medical devices.

The patients who died were a 64 year-old woman and a 71-year old man, and their names have not been released.

Read more about the 2008 Heparin Contamination