Congestive Heart Failure and Procrit

Are Procrit and congestive heart failure linked?

Congestive heart failure in the United States qualifies as an epidemic. An estimated 5 to 6 million people in the U.S. have congestive heart failure. Sadly, only about half of those are diagnosed immediately, despite seeking medical advice. Many experience the symptoms for more than a year before they learn what it is. Many learn only after an acute attack of the symptoms sends them to a hospital. Various treatments are available if early diagnosis is made, but many physicians seem to be misdiagnosing symptoms.

Can Procrit cause congestive heart failure?

Congestive Heart Failure Symptoms

In brief, congestive heart failure symptoms include the following:

* Appetite loss
* Fatigue
* Fluid retention (edema)
* Shortness of breath
* Swelling of abdomen and lower back
* Swelling of legs, ankles, and feet
* Weakness

On examination, the physician finds that the heart is enlarged. Blood is pooling in the body’s liver circulation and its overall circulation. The heart is progressively losing its ability to pump blood throughout the body. Since blood does not flow as it should, it can back up and pool in the extremities or lungs. This is why it is termed congestive heart failure rather than simply heart failure.

Procrit and Congestive Heart Failure

Procrit and congestive heart failure may indeed be closely linked. Procrit is an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA). An FDA alert published on November 16, 2006 reads in part:

FDA is issuing this alert to advise you of a newly published clinical study showing that patients treated with an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) and dosed to a target hemoglobin concentration of 13.5 g/dL are at a significantly increased risk for … hospitalization for congestive heart failure…. The … study findings underscore the importance of following the currently approved prescribing information for Procrit….

In other words, the FDA is alerting physicians to the fact that Procrit might cause congestive heart failure serious enough to entail hospitalization.

The FDA alert goes on to say that healthcare providers should discuss with patients the fact that treatment with an ESA - which Procrit is - can be harmful if not closely monitored.

CAUTION: Please see your doctor if you have reason to think you may have one or more of the risk factors or symptoms of congestive heart disease. The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only.