Fresenius Kidney Dialysis and Possible Risk of Heart Attack

Fresenius Medical Care, “the largest dialysis services provider in the world”, has been the center of Fresenius lawsuits and governmental sanctions after news leaked about an internal memo and internal study conducted by Fresenius that was kept from the public concluded that its products posed an increased risk of severe side effects such as heart attacks and strokes. Specifically, the linked to severe and deadly heart complications was through its two kidney dialysis products: GranuFlo and NaturaLyte.

The increased risk of heart attack is due to two main risk factors related to Fresenius Kidney Dialysis. First, GranuFlo and NaturaLyte can lead to low potassium, a condition that is usually called Hypokalemia. Low potassium can lead to heart attacks in healthy individuals, and it becomes even more risky for patients on kidney dialysis. If the potassium level is low to begin with, then using GranuFlo and NaturaLyte can even lower potassium to fatal levels. Second, these two products may also lead to increased levels of bicarbonate. Bicarbonate is a component of blood, and is also found in GranuFlo and NaturaLyte in different concentrations. If bicarbonate levels are too high before the procedure, then there can be too much bicarbonate, causing the imbalance in the patient’s body.

Claims in lawsuits, and punishments from The U.S. Food and Drug Administration all claim that Fresenius has been aware that the improper use of these products could lead to increased risk of cardiac arrest and death, but it did not notify the FDA until early this year. An internal memo in 2011 warned doctors in Fresenius dialysis centers only that the two products could lead to increased risk of cardiac arrest and other heart complications after finding over 940 cases of patients suffering from cardiac problems such as heart attacks.  Although Fresenius circled these findings to a limited number of department heads, the knowledge of the significant increase in serious side effects that its products GranuFlo and NaturaLyte posed was kept from who needed that knowledge the most: patients, doctors, and the rest of the consumer base.  However, since the findings and the existence of the internal memo were anonymously leaked early this year, lawsuits by injured patients have begun to mount.  

If you or a loved one has suffered any heart problem potentially due to GranuFlo and NaturaLyte, the Rhode Island attorneys at d'Oliveira & Associates wants you to know that you may be entitled to compensation.  Working with the leading GranuFlo attorneys and NaturaLyte lawyers handling these cases, the attorneys at d'Oliveira & Associates wants to ensure that you are offered the legal representation you deserve.  Please contact the law offices of d'Oliveira & Associates, P.C. at 1-800-992-6867 or fill out a contact form for a free legal consultation.