Health Highlights: March 24, 2008

Mar. 25 -- Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:

Another U.S. Company Recalls Heparin

Another company has announced a U.S.-wide recall of the blood thinner heparin. B. Braun Medical Inc. said it's recalling 23 lots of heparin as a precautionary measure, but added that no adverse events have been reported in connection with its product, the Associated Press reported.

Contaminated heparin distributed by a different company, Baxter International Inc., has been associated with 19 deaths and hundreds of allergic reactions. The heparin was contaminated with a chemical called oversulfated chondroitin sulfate, which does not occur naturally.

Braun decided to issue the recall after one of its suppliers, Scientific Protein Laboratories in Wisconsin, warned that a Chinese-sourced ingredient it supplied to Braun contained oversulfated chondroitin sulfate.

Scientific Protein Laboratories is also a suppler to Baxter International Inc., which has recalled nearly all of its heparin distributed in the United States. There have been similar heparin recalls in Germany and Japan, the AP reported.

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Recall of Neuromodulation Implantable Infusion Pumps

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration notice of a Class I recall of Medtronic's Neuromodulation Implantable Infusion Pumps has been issued to healthcare providers. Medtronic has received reports of inflammatory mass formations at or near the tip of catheters that infuse opioids, baclofen, or chemotherapy drugs into patients in order to treat pain, spasticity or cancer.

Medtronic has updated the labeling for the devices to include current patient management and treatment recommendations, the FDA said.

In late January, 2008, the company sent a letter to doctors who implant the devices and/or provide care to patients with the implanted device. In the letter, Medtronic described the problem, patient risks and management, recommendations and next steps.

Company representatives will document their contact with each doctor regarding the recall, and doctors will be asked to sign and return a reply card, the FDA said.