Trasylol And Kidney Failure
The heart surgery drug Trasylol has been linked to a heightened risk of kidney failure. Trasylol is commonly prescribed for patients who undergo heart surgery—such as for blocked coronary arteries and other cardiovascular complications—to control bleeding and induce clotting.
The results of an independent study published in a January 2006 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine suggest that the risk of Trasylol kidney failure may be double that of alternative medications. It also poses other serious side effects such as heart attack, heart failure and stroke.
The NEJM's study suggested that the risk of kidney failure for people taking Trasylol may be twice that for people taking other drugs.
FDA approval—and problems
Bayer AG began marketing Trasylol in 1993, but persistent reports of adverse side effects caused researchers to wonder about the sufficiency of pretrial testing for the drug.
Side effects of Trasylol abound
Besides facing twice the risk for Trasylol kidney failure, patients who took the medication showed a 50% increased risk of heart attack, a 109% increased risk of heart failure and a 181% increased risk of stroke. Patients who took alternative medications comparatively experienced no signs of increased risk for renal failure or any of the other adverse side effects, according to the study.
Many cardiologists and surgeons have expressed concern regarding Trasylol kidney failure since the release of the drug 14 years ago.
