Drug for Troops Labeled Dangerous

[NVMojo]

BALTIMORE (AP) - A blood-coagulating drug designed to treat rare forms of hemophilia is being used on critically wounded U.S. troops in Iraq despite evidence it can cause clots that lead to strokes, heart attacks and death in other patients, The (Baltimore) Sun reported for Sunday's editions.

Recombinant Activated Factor VII, which is made by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, is approved in the United States for treating forms of hemophilia that affect fewer than 3,000 Americans. It costs $6,000 a dose.

The Food and Drug Administration said in a warning last December that giving Factor VII to patients who don't have the blood disorder could cause strokes and heart attacks. Its researchers published a study in January blaming 43 deaths on clots that developed after injections of Factor VII.

However, the Army medical command considers it a medical breakthrough that gives front-line physicians a way to control deadly bleeding. Physicians in Iraq have injected it into more than 1,000 patients, reported The Sun, which makes its first Sunday edition available Saturday afternoon.

"When it works, it's amazing," said Col. John B. Holcomb, an Army trauma surgeon and commander of the Army's Institute of Surgical Research. "It's one of the most useful new tools we have."

Critics strongly disagree.

more..

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/thrive/2006/nov/18/111807796.html

[patrice]

1. I'm worried about the psycho-tropic drugs they're taking, just to do their

duties each day and sleep at night and then get up and do it again.

[ChiciB1]

2. Sounds Like Adding Flour To Thicken The Gravy.. Presumptively

this method seems plausible to staunch bleeding out. But looking closer, one only has to think about reality. How many thousands of Americans are taking medications to prevent blood clots?

America makes up rules as it goes along. People follow... I don't feel like following, I AM out of touch!! So they say!

[drm604]

3. This sounds like a tough call.

This drug sounds like it may be appropriate in some circumstances. If the choice is between bleeding to death and risking a stroke or heart attack then sometimes it may be a necessary risk. Medicine sometimes consists of trade offs where risks have to be weighed and tough decisions made.

Of course, those decisions wouldn't be necessary if it weren't for them lying us into this damned war.

[Indiana_Dem]

4. They probably also need a test like a PT/INR & PTT.

I bet it is only given under some sort of protocol. If the blood is too thick already then they don't give it. At least I HOPE they would check that before giving it. I'm a nurse and that's the test we use before we give Coumadin/warfarin, a commonly given blood thinner.

Which brings up another thought. I wonder if any soldiers take Coumadin? Or would they not be allowed to be active in combat with this? I have no idea what is allowed and what isn't. Seems logical they wouldn't be allowed in combat but who knows these days?

[drm604]

5. I'm not in the medical field so I only have a layman's knowledge.

My mother just started on Coumadin recently and she gets blood tests every week or two. I would guess that the test is what you mentioned.

I wonder if they couldn't give the Factor VII on the battlefield and then, once they've sutured up or cauterized whatever was bleeding, counteract the Factor VII with Coumadin or Heparin.

[kysrsoze]

6. I agree. I'd rather take my chances on a potential clot than bleed to death

Let's be sensible here.

[G Hawes]

7. Yes, it does

And I agree on both points.