Negative surgery drug report is questioned

HARTFORD, Conn., May 30 (UPI) -- U.S. medical researchers say they've determined, contrary to a recent study, the use of a drug called aprotinin to reduce bleeding during heart surgery is safe.

The scientists at Hartford (Conn.) Hospital said they found the use of aprotinin doesn't increase the risk of heart attack or stroke and the results of the earlier research might reflect lab test interactions.

"Our study is important because it shows that if aprotinin is used selectively and a drug/lab test interaction is avoided, the drug does not hurt patients' hearts or brains while reducing their need for blood transfusions and re-operations for bleeding," said C. Michael White, one of the study's authors.

White and colleagues initiated a study of patients treated at Hartford Hospital, limiting the drug therapy to those who would most benefit and avoiding a drug/laboratory test interaction that could have resulted in an increased risk of blood clots.

In contrast to the previous study, there was no increase in heart attack risk among patients receiving aprotinin, while the risk of stroke was 35 percent lower.

The research appears in the June issue of The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.