Nuvaring Lawsuit 2012
Many of the dangerous complications stemming from the contraceptive ring involve the effects of the hormones it releases on a woman’s circulatory system. Please contact us for the latest Nuvaring lawsuit 2012 news and litigation updates if you have suffered from a blood clot or stroke. Estrogen and desogestrel (a progestin) increase the likelihood of abnormal clotting. The results are similar to those associated with thrombophilia (also called hypercoagulability). Nuvaring side effects involving blood clots are more likely to form in the veins, arteries, and in some cases, in the heart.
One of the most common areas of clotting is within the deep veins of the legs. This is a serious condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can lead to a pulmonary embolism, stroke, or heart attack. The risk is higher when plaque deposits accumulate in key arteries since even small blood clots can potentially trigger a life-threatening event.
Treatment for clots (called thrombi) is based on the risk they pose to the health of the patient. For DVT and mild cases of pulmonary embolism, anticoagulant drugs are used. For stroke, more aggressive treatment is usually necessary.
How Anticoagulant Drugs Reduce Coagulation
Anticoagulation therapy is available in two main forms: warfarin and heparin. Warfarin is commonly known as Coumadin, and is given in tablet form. It reduces your body’s rate of coagulation by slowing the production of vitamin K. Because vitamin K is necessary for the manufacture of an important clotting factor called prothrombin, slowing its production increases the time needed for thrombi to form.
Heparin is introduced directly into a blood vessel via injection or IV. It interacts with your body’s thrombin system by slowing the production of a protein called fibrin. This protein is responsible for securing a platelet plug, which is the basis of a clot. It is produced in the body when thrombin acts upon another protein called fibrinogen; the interaction turns fibrinogen into fibrin strands. Heparin slows this interaction, which, in turn, slows the rate of coagulation.
Neither warfarin or heparin actively dissolve existing blood clots. Rather, they prevent new thrombi from forming – or at least, slow their development. This is useful since it helps avert potentially fatal outcomes when clots are blocking major arteries and restricting blood flow to organs. The drawback to anticoagulation therapy is that the medications pose a high risk of bleeding.
When Are Antiplatelet Drugs Used?
Platelets are cell fragments that circulate throughout the venous and arterial systems. When a blood vessel is injured, a chemical reaction occurs that causes the platelets’ surface to become sticky. They descend upon the injury, clumping together to form a platelet plug. Antiplatelet medications slow coagulation by preventing the surface of the platelets from becoming sticky. As a result, the platelets are less likely to clump together.
These drugs are commonly used when thrombi are found in the arteries since platelets are the main clotting ingredient in these vessels. They are also given when more aggressive medications (e.g. thrombolytic drugs) are contraindicated due to a risk of bleeding.
Treatment For Life-Threatening Blood Clots
When thrombi have caused substantial blockages in the blood vessels, impaired blood flow can cause the death of the patient. For example, a massive pulmonary embolism can be fatal within an hour; nearly 50 percent of deaths stemming from heart attack occur within the first few hours; stroke, too, is a medical emergency because delayed treatment can result in death or severe disabilities. Even DVT can progress to the point where the affected limb is at risk of amputation due to the spread of gangrene.
In these circumstances, anticoagulation therapy may be insufficient. In their place, thrombolytic drugs (known as “clot busters”) may be administered. These medications can actively dissolve existing blood clots, restoring blood flow through the occluded vessel. As with warfarin and heparin, however, thrombolytics pose a high risk of bleeding.
Blood clots can usually be treated successfully with anticoagulant drugs. Thrombi must be detected and addressed as early as possible to prevent pulmonary embolism, stroke, and heart attack. If you have suffered from DVT, PE, or other serious Nuvaring side effects, you may be able to file a claim against the birth control ring’s manufacturer. Contact an experienced Nuvaring lawsuit settlements attorney to discuss your case.