Thursday, March 04, 2004

Rhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle fibers resulting in the release of muscle fiber contents into the circulation. Some of these are toxic to the kidney and frequenty result in kidney damage. Causes, incidence, and risk factors    Myoglobin is an oxygen-binding protein pigment found in the skeletal muscle. When the skeletal muscle is damaged, the myoglobin is released into the bloodstream. It is filtered out of the bloodstream by the kidneys. Myoglobin may occlude the structures of the kidney, causing damage such as acute tubular necrosis or kidney failure. Myoglobin breaks down into potentially toxic compounds, which will also cause kidney failure. Necrotic (dead tissue) skeletal muscle may cause massive fluid shifts from the bloodstream into the muscle, reducing the relative fluid volume of the body and leading to shock and reduced blood flow to the kidneys. The disorder may be caused by any condition that results in damage to skeletal muscle, especially trauma. Risk factors include the following: Severe exertion such as marathon running or calisthenics Ischemia or necrosis of the muscles (as may occur with arterial occlusion, deep venous thrombosis, or other conditions) Seizures Use or overdose of drugs-especially cocaine, amphetamines, statins, heroin, or PCP Trauma Shaking chills Heat intolerance and/or heatstroke Alcoholism (with subsequent muscle tremors) Low phosphate levels Symptoms    Abnormal urine color (dark, red, or cola colored) Muscle tenderness Weakness of the affected muscle(s) Generalized weakness Muscle stiffness or aching (myalgia) Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease include the following: Weight gain (unintentional) Seizures Joint pain Fatigue Signs and tests    An examination reveals tender or damaged skeletal muscles. A urinalysis may reveal casts and be positive for hemoglobin without evidence of red blood cells on microscopic examination. A urine myoglobin test is positive. A serum myoglobin test is positive. A CPK is very high. A serum potassium may be very high (potassium is released from cells into the bloodstream when there is cell breakdown). This disease may also alter the results of the following tests: Urine creatinine Serum creatinine CPK isoenzymes Treatment    Early and aggressive hydration may prevent complications by rapidly eliminating the myoglobin out of the kidneys. The hydration needs with muscle necrosis may approximate the massive fluid volume needs of a severely burned patient. This may involve intravenous administration of several liters of fluid until the condition stabilizes. Diuretic medications such as mannitol or furosemide may aid in flushing the pigment out of the kidneys. If the urine output is sufficient, bicarbonate may be given to maintain an alkaline urine state. This helps to prevent the dissociation of myoglobin into toxic compounds. Hyperkalemia should be treated if present. Kidney failure should be treated as appropriate. Expectations (prognosis)    The outcome varies depending on the extent of kidney damage incurred. Calling your health care provider    Call your health care provider if symptoms indicate rhabdomyolysis may be present. Prevention    After any condition that may involve damage to skeletal muscle, hydration should be adequate to dilute the urine and flush the myoglobin out of the kidney. 3:17:43 PM    comment []

DEFECTIVE DRUGS: Prempro Prempro Blog Manufacturer: Wyeth Ayerst Pharmaceuticals. Content: Conjugated estrogens, medroxyprogesterone acetate. Information: Prempro is a combination of estrogen and progestin combined into one pill. It is used primarily to treat women suffering from symptoms of menopause including: hot flashes, vaginal dryness, night sweats and osteoporosis. History:  As a combination of e+p, Prempro was originally advertised as being able to assist with the alleviation of most Menopausal symptoms as well as assist with the prevention of heart disease and blood clots.  Prempro, after more studies, was actually shown to enhance the chances of a person devoloping heart disease and blood clots.  A second study by a group of scientist in England provided data that suggested that all HRT had very similar if not the same effects on the female body.  The most powerful and distrubing study was recently performed by the WHI; the study was cut short due to the unacceptable chance for breast cancer: The Section of the National Institute of Health (NIH) known as the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recently halted a major clinical study of Hormone Replacement Therapy involving Prempro. The study, conducted in conjunction with the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), sought to determine the long term effectiveness, safety, risks and benefits of combined estrogen and progestin therapy (known as HRT) in healthy menopausal women. The study, scheduled to continue until 2005, was stopped prematurely due to an increased risk of invasive breast cancer in study participants.    Complete Study: Click Here Contact a Lawyer: Click Here Prempro Blogs      Prempro was realized to cause irrevocable damages, the FDA was forced to step in and mandate that the manufactures of HRT drugs alter their labels.  The consumers have a right to know the risks that they run in using HRT, more specifically Prempro.  The labels had to specifically state that Prempro could not assist with the prevention of heart disease and other negative side effects were listed as well. (Please refer to the FDA Article Provided click here) Now many of the companies have to specifically state that Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase a woman’s chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots.  After all the debate and discovery HRT is viewed with an entirely new outlook and alternatives are already being widely sought after.  Still people desire to know if they have been affected adversely by HRT, provided below are the numbers from the study mentioned above: How many women were affected?  2.5% of women in the estrogen plus progestin study had these health events. These results tell us that during one year, for every 10,000 women taking estrogen plus progestin, we would expect: a.. 7 more women with heart attacks. In other words, 37 women taking estrogen plus progestin would have heart attacks compared to 30 women taking placebo. b.. 8 more women with strokes. c.. 8 more women with breast cancer. d.. 18 more women with blood clots. These results also suggest that for every 10,000 women taking estrogen plus progestin, we would expect: a.. 6 fewer colorectal cancers. b.. 5 fewer hip fractures. c.. Fewer fractures in other bones. The numbers break down into these percentages: 26% increase in breast cancer 41% increase in strokes 29% increase in heart attacks 111% Greater than Doubled rates of blood clots in legs and lungs 37% less colorectal cancer 34% fewer hip fractures and 24% less total fractures In summary, more women taking estrogen plus progestin had a serious health event than did women taking placebo. We conclude that estrogen plus progestin does not prevent heart disease and is not beneficial overall. These results do not apply to women who had a hysterectomy before joining WHI and are participating in the study of estrogen alone. The DSMB recommended that the study of estrogen alone continue as planned. The balance of risks and benefits for women in the estrogen alone study is still uncertain. It is important to note that, to date, women in the estrogen alone study have not shown an increased risk of breast cancer. Risks and Benefits of Estrogen Plus Progestin in Healthy Postmenopausal Women (JAMA. 2002;288:321-333) More than 6 million women have taken the hormone replacement therapy over the last several years. People who have suffered from adverse effects of taking Prempro, Premarin or any other hormone replacement therapy may have a claim against the manufacturer of the drug.  If you feel that you have a case, please contact one of our lawyers and recieve a free case evaluation.  Click on the link provided below and fill out the information form to the best of your ability.  There is no cost or obligation.   3:14:54 PM    comment []

Prempro Lawsuits & HRT Side Effects:      In 2001, approximately 22.3 million prescriptions were written for Prempro which was perscribed for symptoms of menopause, hot flashes, the prevention of osteoporosis and other uses. However, a national study of hormone replacement therapy by the Women's Health Initiative concluded that women taking Hormone Replacements are at increased risk of breast cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke and pulmonary embolism. If you, or someone you love has suffered a stroke, blood clot, pulmonary embolism or breast cancer as a result of taking Prempro, you may be able to file a legal claim against the manufacturer for monetary compensation.  For a free evaluation of your claim from an experienced personal injury attorney, please click on the "Free Evaluation" link above. Below, you will find some of the side effects and findings of the WHI study.  New Research The study's main goal was to see if the therapy would help prevent heart disease and hip fractures. Another goal was to see if those possible benefits were greater than the possible risks from breast cancer, endometrial (or uterine) cancer, and blood clots.  The study was to have continued until 2005. However, it was stopped in July 2002 because the DSMB found an increased risk of breast cancer and that, overall, risks from use of the hormones outweighed and outnumbered the benefits. Provided below is a list of the repercussions of HRT and Prempro useage: Breast cancer. The increased risk of breast cancer appeared after 4 years of hormone use. After 5.2 years, estrogen plus progestin resulted in a 26 percent increase in the risk of breast cancer–or 8 more breast cancers each year for every 10,000 women. Women who had used estrogen plus progestin before entering the study were more likely to develop breast cancer than others, indicating that the therapy may have a cumulative effect. Heart attack. For heart attack, the risk began to increase in the first year of estrogen plus progestin use and became more pronounced in the second year. After 5.2 years, there were 29 percent more heart attacks in the estrogen plus progestin group than in the placebo group–or 7 more heart attacks each year for every 10,000 women. Unlike HERS, which involved women with heart disease, the increased risk from estrogen plus progestin did not go back down again. Stroke. For the first time, estrogen plus progestin was shown to cause more strokes in healthy women. By the end of the study, the estrogen plus progestin group had 41 percent more strokes than the placebo group–or 8 more strokes each year for every 10,000 women. Blood clots. The risk of total blood clots was greatest during the first 2 years of hormone use–four times higher than that of placebo users. By the end of the study, it had decreased to two times greater–or 18 more women with blood clots each year for every 10,000 women. Fractures. Estrogen plus progestin reduced hip fractures by 34 percent–or 5 fewer hip fractures for every 10,000 women. This is the first solid evidence from a clinical trial that hormone therapy, in helping to prevent bone loss and osteoporosis, protects women against fractures. Colorectal cancer. The therapy also lowered the risk of colorectal cancer by 37 percent–or 6 fewer colorectal cancers each year for every 10,000 women. This reduction appeared after 3 years of hormone use and became more significant thereafter. However, the number of cases of colorectal cancer was relatively small, and more research is needed to confirm the finding. (NIH) A report to be published in the Lancet this weekend says a UK study involving more than a million women aged 50 -64 over a five year period shows an increased risk of breast cancer for women who use all types of HRT. (AMA) Findings from the WHI Memory Study (WHIMS), reported in May 2003, showed that in older women, age 65 and above, use of estrogen plus progestin doubled the risk of developing dementia. These same women also did more poorly on cognitive function tests compared with those taking placebo. (cancer.gov)         Based on the new findings of the Women's Health Initiative Study on hormone replacement therapy, Prempro has been shown not to protect against heart disease. Prempro, has however, been shown to significantly increase the risk of heart attacks, stroke, blood clots, and breast cancer.      For 40 years, women have been encouraged even pressured to take these drugs for hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and protection from brittle bones and heart attacks. New guidelines will state that Prempro should not be taken to prevent heart disease. Some Doctors now caution against long-term use due to the risk of breast cancer.      Prempro is also known to have potential adverse drug reactions such as abdominal cramps and depression.  "Annual hormone therapy prescriptions increased from 58 million in 1995 to 90 million in 1999, representing approximately 15 million women per year, then remained stable through June 2002. Adoption of new oral estrogen/progestin combinations, primarily Prempro, accounted for most of this growth.  Obstetrician/gynecologists provided more than 70% of hormone therapy prescriptions" (see JAMA Vol. 291 No. 1, January 7, 2004 for full article)      As a result of these shocking findings, our lawyers are currently investigating claims against the makers of Prempro, Premarin and manufacturers of other hormone replacement therapy treatments.  We have also taken steps to compile government provided research and information regarding the topics of HRT: E+P, Prempro and Premarin for use in this web site.  Please take some time to read and take advantage of these valuable resources.      If you have been taking hormonal replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms, and are experiencing problems or adverse reactions, you should contact your physician immediately.      You should also contact an attorney for guidance.  Our attorneys are currently investigating claims where Prempro use has caused harm or injury and accepting evaluations online for potential claimants who will out our free consultation form.  If you were injured by Prempro you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your injuries. Remember, the time to make a claim is limited, and we strongly urge anyone injured to seek counsel as soon as possible.     3:11:00 PM    comment []