Is Blood Coagulating Drug Dangerous For Troops Or A Life Saver?

November 20, 2006 – 7:53 pm | posted in Blood / Hematology, Cardiovascular, Public Health, Stroke / Neuroprotection

Recombinant Activated Factor VII, a blood coagulating drug, is considered a medical breakthrough for Army doctors - they say it gives them an effective way to control fatal bleeding of front line wounded patients. The drug is designed for treating an uncommon type of hemophilia (FVII deficiency), not wounded patients. At the end of last year the FDA warned that Recombinant Activated Factor VII can cause strokes and heart attacks if used on patients who do not have this rare disorder.

Recombinant Activated Factor VII is used on 3,000 civilian patients each year who suffer from FVII deficiency. A dose costs $6,000.

Many military doctors say the drug is one of the most useful new tools they have. If a wounded soldier needs 10 or more units of blood, his/her chances of dying from injuries can be as high as 50% - they say this drug is a life saver. A patient who is hemorrhaging and is given this drug stops (hemorrhaging) - without it he/she would have died, say military doctors.

Military hospitals in Germany and the USA have detected unusual blood clots among patients who are returned from Iraq, some of these clots have been deadly. They have also reported pulmonary embolisms, heart attacks, and strokes among patients who should not normally have suffered from these conditions.

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