Death rate linked to comtaminated heparin almost doubles

The drug watchdog in the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have updated the number of deaths in patients who took the drug heparin.

The latest figure is 149, almost double the previous one and includes all manufacturers reports; the cases cited patients who experienced symptoms associated with contaminated heparin, such as extreme allergic reactions - but the FDA says it was unable to determine if contamination was the cause of the deaths.

The medication was recalled by drug companies earlier this year because the heparin was made with ingredients imported from China which were contaminated.

The FDA says it does not mean that they died because of the contaminated heparin but rather that they were taking it when they died.

An investigation by the FDA probe earlier found chemical contaminants in some batches of Baxter's heparin - previously the FDA had said there were 81 deaths among patients treated with heparin since January 2007.

Heparin is a vital medication used in dialysis and some surgeries to prevent blood clots.

The FDA says in the majority of reports with a death outcome, there was not enough clinical information to assess the relationship between death and the use of heparin.