Texas NaturaLyte Heart Attack Lawyer

NaturaLyte is a product that is used during dialysis to balance the acidity of blood before is returned to a patient’s body. Unfortunately, NaturaLyte was recalled after being linked to a risk of heart attack and death. Many people are now seeking justice for their injuries by filing a NaturaLyte lawsuit against Fresenius, the company that manufactures NaturaLyte, for failing to warn about the severe, life-threatening risks of this product.

Do I Have a NaturaLyte Heart Attack Lawsuit? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one has been injured after using NaturaLyte, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a NaturaLyte lawsuit.

What is the problem with NaturaLyte?

NaturaLyte is a dialysis product manufactured by Fresenius Medical Care. Fresenius creates and sells many dialysis products. They also operate more than 1,800 dialysis clinics in the U.S. People who are suffering from end-stage kidney disease use dialysis to remove toxins and excess fluid from their blood. During the dialysis process, acid normally increases in the blood. A doctor must balance the acidity of the blood before it is returned to the patient’s body.

Naturalyte Liquid Concentrate is a chemical used to balance the acidity of blood. It consists of acetic acid and sodium diacetate.

Normally during dialysis, bicarbonate is used to balance the acidity of blood. When patients are treated with NaturaLyte, the liver rapidly converts sodium diacetate to bicarbonate — effectively increasing the total amount of bicarbonate beyond what was initially prescribed. If a physician does not compensate for this “extra” bicarbonate, a patient can suffer a life-threatening bicarbonate overdose.

Failure to Warn about NaturaLyte Risks

In June 2012, the New York Times reported that Fresenius was being investigated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for failing to warn about the potentially lethal risks of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte.

The Times reported that Fresenius sent an internal memo, dated November 4, 2011, reporting that 941 deaths had occurred at Fresenius clinics in 2010. The company concluded that people with high bicarbonate levels were six-times more likely to suffer cardiac arrest than people with low bicarbonate levels. The memo was sent to doctors at Fresenius clinics. However, the risk information was not disclosed to government regulators, doctors at other dialysis clinics, or the public.

An anonymous source leaked the memo to the FDA in March 2012. When the FDA confronted Fresenius, the company issued a notice to customers on March 29, 2012.

FDA Recalls NaturaLyte

On June 27, 2012, the FDA issued a Class 1 recall of NaturaLyte, warning:

“Inappropriate prescription of these products can lead to a high serum bicarbonate level in patients undergoing hemodialysis. This may contribute to metabolic alkalosis, which is a significant risk factor associated with low blood pressure, hypokalemia, hypoxemia, hypercapnia and cardiac arrhythmia, which, if not appropriately treated, may culminate in cardiopulmonary arrest. This product may cause serious adverse health consequences, including death.”

NaturaLyte and Heart Attacks

Improper use of NaturaLyte can lead to a bicarbonate overdose, which can disrupt the normal pH of the blood and cause metabolic alkalosis. Potential complications of NaturaLyte include:

• Cardiac arrest
• Heart attack
• Cardiopulmonary arrest
• Stroke
• Irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
• Low blood pressure
• Permanent disability
• Death

Do I have a NaturaLyte Heart Attack Lawsuit?

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $60 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact us for a free NaturaLyte lawsuit review.