The FDA said today there have been 62 fatal allergic reactions following the use of contaminated heparin.
In the 15 months from Jan. 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008, the FDA received reports of 103 deaths following heparin use, but only 62 of the deaths were linked to one or more allergic reactions, including severe hypotension, that have been linked to contaminated heparin.
The FDA has identified as the “heparin-like” contaminant called hypersulfated chondroitin sulfate in crude heparin from Scientific Protein Laboratories’ plants in Zhangzhou, China, and Waunakee, Wis.