[HSF] More Bad News About Trasylol

[Tdmartin2000 at aol.com]

Hal

I use aprotinin in almost all cases (especially circ arrest) given the 
complexity of the cases I do and our incidence of renal failure requiring dialysis 
is no different. The incidence of "renal insufficiency" defined by a 50% rise 
in creatinine is higher, however, what most people don't realize is that 
aprotinin competes with creatinine for renal excretion and you will see a  transient 
rise in creatinine based on this competition. 
Phil Hess is one of my partners that is currently studying aprotinin in a 
variety of ways and he is much more eloquent at defending aprotinin than me. 
According to Phil, an STS advisory committee found that 23 of 26 studies that they 
reviewed on aprotinin showed no significant detrimental effects. The current 
"study" that was in the NY Times, as I understand it has a lot more review to 
be done. 
Again, I still think the jury is still out and that in the end we will have a 
different recommendation from the FDA.

Tom Martin
U of Florida
Gainesville