Lemtrada Deaths Prompt Greater Scrutiny and Harsher Warnings

Lemtrada Stroke Lawsuit News

Lemtrada warnings now include the added risk for spontaneous heart attack and the prolonged risk of autoimmune diseases

Thursday, February 27, 2020 - The United Kingdom's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is leaving no stone unturned and diligently warning doctors and patients about the life-threatening side effects of anti-multiple sclerosis drug Lemtrada. The UK's top medical watchdog has issued a "revised indication, additional contraindications and strengthened monitoring requirements" before, during, and after treatments for the drug that has helped so many to lessen the severity of relapse recurring multiple sclerosis RRMS symptoms. The drug's extreme effectiveness is counterbalanced by its side effects of causing arterial dissection, a tearing of the major arteries leading to the brain, heart, and lungs, and causing and trapping blood clots that can break free and lead to strokes and heart attack within the first 24-48 hours after taking the drug and sometimes as instantly as when the patient is still hooked up to the Lemtrada IV drip, so many so that the EMA and US FDA require that emergency medical equipment and trained staff be present during the duration of the two-day Lemtrada IV drip treatment. The new restrictions and regulations placed upon Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) come after "a review of serious cardiovascular and immune-mediated reactions, " according to European Pharmaceutical Review.com. Lemtrada stroke lawsuits are handled by top national attorneys and represent all persons involved in a Lemtrada lawsuit for stroke or arterial dissection on a contingency basis and offer a free consultation before filing a claim.

At the core of the new Lemtrada warnings is the likelihood and severity that healthy patients with no history of heart disease or other medical issues, may experience an immediate adverse coronary reaction as life-threatening as having a heart attack resulting in instant death. EPR writes: "The MHRA also announced that the review concluded serious cardiovascular reactions can rarely occur within one to three days of alemtuzumab infusions in people without any identifiable risk factors. Reactions included myocardial ischemia, cerebral hemorrhage, arterial dissection of the cervicocephalic arteries, pulmonary alveolar hemorrhage and non-immune thrombocytopenia, the regulatory body said." If the likelihood of having a heart attack is not enough, other medical problems affecting the immune system that are just as devastating can occur months or years down the road. "Unpredictable and potentially fatal immune-mediated reactions can occur within months and up to at least four years after treatment with the drug. Reactions included autoimmune hepatitis, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and acquired hemophilia A. The review identified serious cases of Epstein-Barr virus reactivation reported after treatment, including hepatitis. Some patients developed more than one autoimmune disorder following treatment."

As stated earlier, Lemtrada is a drug of last resort and to be taken only when all others (at least 2) drugs have failed and the patient's RRMS is severe and highly active. Doctors and patients are required to read and answer a battery of questions and then sign that they have done so showing that they understand the devastation that could occur to their health from taking the drug. Add to that a recent study recently published in the European journal BMC Research Notes titled "Adverse events with fatal outcome associated with alemtuzumab treatment in multiple sclerosis," revealed that more deaths are occurring from taking Lemtrada than were suspected prompting the new Lemtrada restrictions.

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OnderLaw, LLC is a St. Louis personal injury law firm handling serious injury and death claims across the country. Its mission is the pursuit of justice, no matter how complex the case or strenuous the effort. The Onder Law Firm has represented clients throughout the United States in pharmaceutical and medical device litigation such as Pradaxa, Lexapro and Yasmin/Yaz, where the firm's attorneys held significant leadership roles in the litigation, as well as Actos, DePuy, Risperdal and others. The Onder Law Firm has won more than $300 million in four talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits in St. Louis. Law firms throughout the nation often seek its experience and expertise on complex litigation.