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I'm suprised no one posted this earlier but this should seriously scare
all the racers taking Procrit and other EPO boosters. Johnson &
Johnson owned Ortho Biotech LP issued documents last week indicating
that:
"studies revealed major complications, including blood clots and death,
when doctors used Procrit to try to boost levels of hemoglobin beyond
recommended levels."
Hemoglobin increases along with red-blood cell counts. The normal
range is between 12-18 g/dl. Doctors were continuing to use EPO even
after patients were clinically non-anemic to boost hemoglobin even
higher - in the hopes that they'd give patients a "buffer". Problem
was that some were throwing clots and dying.
Most every racer will have a natural hemoglobin count of at least 12
and probably more. As they dope with Epogen products and increase
their red-blood cell count to the high 40s and low 50s, their
hemoglobin will increase as well. Their starting numbers are already
in the zone where Procrit use is contraindicated.
Ortho Biotech has warned NOT to use Procrit (and presumably other
products) when hemoglobin reaches 13 or more g/dl. Again, this is
probably the starting number for most healthy people.
They sent a letter to doctors in August but it was just released this
past week to the general public. Here's the link on the FDA site:
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2004/Procrit_dearhcp.pdf
Jenny
all the racers taking Procrit and other EPO boosters. Johnson &
Johnson owned Ortho Biotech LP issued documents last week indicating
that:
"studies revealed major complications, including blood clots and death,
when doctors used Procrit to try to boost levels of hemoglobin beyond
recommended levels."
Hemoglobin increases along with red-blood cell counts. The normal
range is between 12-18 g/dl. Doctors were continuing to use EPO even
after patients were clinically non-anemic to boost hemoglobin even
higher - in the hopes that they'd give patients a "buffer". Problem
was that some were throwing clots and dying.
Most every racer will have a natural hemoglobin count of at least 12
and probably more. As they dope with Epogen products and increase
their red-blood cell count to the high 40s and low 50s, their
hemoglobin will increase as well. Their starting numbers are already
in the zone where Procrit use is contraindicated.
Ortho Biotech has warned NOT to use Procrit (and presumably other
products) when hemoglobin reaches 13 or more g/dl. Again, this is
probably the starting number for most healthy people.
They sent a letter to doctors in August but it was just released this
past week to the general public. Here's the link on the FDA site:
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2004/Procrit_dearhcp.pdf
Jenny