Review triggered by cases of liver injury.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has started a new review of medicines containing hydroxyethyl-starch (HES). These products are used for the management of hypovolaemia (low blood volume) caused by acute (sudden) blood loss, where treatment with alternative infusion solutions known as ‘crystalloids’ alone is not considered to be sufficient. HES medicines are given by infusion (drip) into a vein and are used as blood volume expanders to prevent shock following acute bleeding.
The review is triggered by results from two drug utilisation studies indicating that HES-containing medicines were being used outside their authorised uses, including in critically ill patients and those with sepsis and kidney injury despite restrictions introduced in 2013 to reduce the risks of kidney problems and deaths.
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EMA starts new review of hydroxyethyl-starch containing medicines
