Study Confirms Trasylol Dangers

Scott Kappes

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The results of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine have confirmed preliminary findings that Bayer’s anti-bleeding medication Trasylol (aprotinin) dramatically increases a patient’s risk of death. The BART trial, as it was called, was halted when it became apparent that death rates were disproportionately higher for patients being given Trasylol. This prompted Bayer to suspend worldwide marketing of the drug. The results, now made public, show that patients receiving Trasylol have a 53 percent greater risk of death when compared with those receiving less expensive alternatives.

The study did find Trasylol to be slightly more effective in reducing bleeding than the other medications but by no means does this out weigh the significant increased risk of death. Previous studies have linked Trasylol to heart and kidney problems, but never statistically significant enough to prompt widespread concern. Some experts believe that the use Trasylol could have been responsible for 1000 deaths a month. If this study would have been done five or ten years ago just think of the lives that could have been saved.

A commentary accompanying the study, released online by the New England Journal of Medicine, said the drug was unlikely to be returned to the market.

As of early this month Bayer was facing 83 lawsuits filed on behalf of Americans that claim to have been injured or died as a result of being given Trasylol, and I am sure that this number will skyrocket in the near future. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of being given Trasylol contact an attorney today.