- Tracking Exercise by Steps or Minutes? Study Finds Either Method Boosts Health
- Stomach Paralysis Risk May Rise in People Taking Ozempic and Similar Drugs
- In a Shift, Pediatricians’ Group Says Breastfeeding Safe When HIV-Positive Mom Is Properly Treated
- Fertility Treatments Safe for Breast Cancer Survivors With Cancer-Linked Genes
- 1 in 4 Parents Say Their Teen Drinks Caffeine Daily
- New Blood Test Could Spot Dangerous Type of Stroke
- Blood Pressure Meds Raise Fracture Risks for Those in Nursing Homes
- Could Infertility Treatment Raise Postpartum Heart Risks?
- Does It Matter What You Eat or Drink Before Bed?
- Your Allergy Meds Come With Hazards: Be Aware
Anti-Clotting Drug Approved For Angioplasty
Kengreal (cangrelor) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prevent blood clots from forming during angioplasty.
Angioplasty involves inflating a balloon inside a clogged artery to improve blood flow. This is typically followed by insertion of a stent, a small mesh tube designed to keep the artery open.
Some 500,000 people in the United States have the procedure — medically called percutaneous coronary intervention — annually, the FDA said in a news release. Formation of a blood clot during the procedure could lead to heart attack.
As with any anti-clotting drug, life-threatening bleeding is a potential side effect, the agency noted.
In clinical trials, Kengreal was compared to the anti-clotting drug Plavix (clopidogrel) among more than 10,000 participants. Cases of serious bleeding, while still rare, were more common among users who took Kengreal than Plavix, the FDA said.
Kengreal is manufactured by The Medicines Co., based in Parsippany, N.J.
More information
Visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to learn more.
Source: HealthDay
Copyright © 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.