Bayer Disputes Journal Article Linking Trasylol to Kidney Failure

LEVERKUSEN, Germany - Bayer HealthCare is disputing findings published in the recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine linking its Trasylol (aprotinin) cardiac surgery drug to kidney failure.

The article, 'The Risk Associated with Aprotinin in Cardiac Surgery' was published in the journal's Jan. 26 issue (Vol. 354:353-365). The authors studied 4,374 patients undergoing revascularization, and assessed aprotinin in 1,295 patients, aminocaproic acid in 883 patients and tranexamic acid in 822 patients, as compared with no agent in 1,374 patients.

The researchers said the majority of patients undergoing surgical treatment for ST-elevation myocardial infarction receive antifibrinolytic therapy to …