Benzene Related Leukemia

Benzene leukemia has been associated with long-term exposure to the hazardous chemical benzene. Benzene, a carcinogen, is found in rubbers, plastics, synthetic fabrics, and resins. It is a clear, colorless and flammable liquid. This dangerous chemical has been strictly regulated by the federal government’s Environmental Protection Agency, but it is still a risk for many people in industrial professions.

Benzene Exposure in the Work Place

With exposures from less than 5 years to more than 30 years, individuals have developed, and died from, leukemia. Long-term benzene exposure can affect bone marrow and blood production. Short-term exposure to high levels of benzene can cause drowsiness, dizziness, unconsciousness, and death.

Individuals employed in industries that make or use benzene may be exposed to the highest levels of benzene. These industries include benzene production (petrochemicals, petroleum refining and coke and coal chemical manufacturing), rubber tire manufacturing and storage or transport of benzene and petroleum products containing benzene. Other workers who may be exposed to benzene because of their occupations include: laboratory technicians, mechanics, chemical plant workers, steel workers, paper and wood pulp workers, printers, rubber workers, shoe makers, firefighters, gasoline truck drivers, pipe fitters, refinery workers, maritime workers and gas station employees.

Benzene exposure has been associated particularly with myelogenous leukemia. Myelogenous leukemia is a cancer that forms within the body’s white blood cells. White blood cells destroy foreign bacteria and cells in the body that could cause infection or illness. Myelogenous leukemia causes the body’s production of white and red blood cells to be disturbed, substantially weakening the body’s immune system and causing anemia in many cases. Patients suffering from myelogenous benzene leukemia have impaired strength and are much more susceptible to infection.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), please call Claudine Q. Homolash for a free confidential benzene lawsuit evaluation.

Chantix Update: FDA Evaluating Reports of Suicidal Thoughts In Chantix Users

On November 20, 2007, the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") reported that it is evaluating post-marketing adverse event reports about Pfizer Inc.'s smoking cessation drug Chantix upon receiving company submitted reports about Chantix users having suicidal thoughts.

The FDA asked Pfizer for the reports. The FDA said that while it analyzed data, it recommends that health care providers monitor Chantix patients for behavior and mood changes. The FDA said patients should report behavior and mood changes to their doctors.

Claudine Q. Homolash, Esq. represents consumers who have been injured as a result of dangerous drugs and other products.

Serious Side-Effects Linked to the Smoking Cessation Drug Chantix

The smoking cessation drug, Chantix, is manufactured and distributed by Pfizer, a pharmaceutical titan in terms of profits and influence. Chantix was marketed as a promising drug which was designed to work in conjunction with behavior modification therapy to help people work towards leaving their smoking habit behind for good.

Initially, minor side-effects were reported, such as nausea and dizziness, but as time progressed, the known side-effects became more serious. Reported side-effects include chronic feelings of extreme anxiety and depression, up to and including thoughts of suicide and acts of abuse.

Discovery remains ongoing in regards to Chantix, but if you're using it, seek medical attention immediately, especially if you're feeling any potential side-effects. If you have experienced side-effects regarding this drug, contact me directly so I can assist in investigating a potential claim on your behalf.

Claudine Q. Homolash is a personal injury attorney representing individuals injured by dangerous drugs and other products. Ms. Homolash represents injured individuals in litigations involving, but not limited to, the drugs Vioxx, Bextra, and Gadolinium. Ms. Homolash also represents plaintiffs in against Boston Scientific (formerly Guidant) and Medtronic.

Plaintiffs Obtain $240 Million Revised Settlement In Guidant Defibrillators Product Liability Litigation

On November 19, 2007, it was announced that an amended settlement agreement has been obtained on behalf of 8,550 patient plaintiffs who asserted claims against Guidant Corporation, Boston Scientific Corporation and other entities (hereinafter collectively referred to as, the "Defendants"). The plaintiffs had claimed that Defendants knowingly sold them inherently defective defibrillator devices with potential life-threatening defects over a period of three years. The amended settlement expands a prior agreement obtained in July 2007, which had provided for a recovery of $195 million to settle over 5,600 claims. After additional injured patients stepped forward, the agreement was amended to provide up to $240 million in compensation. The settlement hopes to encompass most of the pending claims.


Claudine Q. Homolash heads her firm's heart device litigation representing clients who have suffered physical and emotional injuries as a result of the implantation of a recalled Guidant defibrillator and/or pacemakers.

Avandia Diabetes Drug Linked to Heart Attacks and Congestive Heart Failure

A study recently released by the New England Journal of Medicine has linked one of the most commonly prescribed diabetes drugs, GlaxoSmithKline’s Avandia, to a significant increase in the risk of heart attack. The study reflects data involving 15,560 patients who took the drug and 12,283 patients who were given other medications or a placebo. Patients getting Avandia, known chemically as rosiglitazone, were 43 percent more likely to have a heart attack. The study strongly suggests a trend toward higher cardiac death rates in the Avandia study group.

The lead author of the study, Steven Nissen, who is the chairman of cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, stated that the results of this analysis raise serious concerns about the cardiovascular safety of Avandia. Furthermore, he continued, [u]nfortunately, rosiglitazone appears to increase, rather than decrease, the most serious complication of diabetes, heart disease.

In the wake of this study, on November 14th, it was announced that the FDA now requires Avandia’s manufacturer to include what is known as a “black box” warning on the drug’s label to warn patients of the increased risk of heart attacks. Patients who took the drug prior to this time, did not have the benefit of such a warning and, as such, may have legal claims against the drug manufacturer in the event of a cardiac event.

Avandia was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1999 to treat type II diabetes. This condition, commonly called adult-onset diabetes, affects millions of people across the world. The American Diabetes Association reports that almost 21 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, a disease in which the body doesn’t properly make or use the hormone insulin to convert blood sugar to energy. Avandia acts by lowering the body’s blood sugar levels, which can cause complications - including kidney and eye damage - by increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin. There have been tens of millions of prescriptions for Avandia written since it was approved in 1999.

Avandia has now been linked to heart failure and hypoglycemia (or extremely low blood sugar). Heart failure symptoms include:

• Chest pain
• Swelling of the extremities
• Weight fluctuations
• Difficulty breathing/Shortness of breath

Hypoglycemia symptoms include:

• Dizziness • Headaches
• Accelerated heart rate • Weakness
• Sweating • Fatigue

If you or a loved one has suffered a heart attack or congestive heart failure while taking Avandia, please contact me directly.

Claudine Q. Homolash litigates pharmaceutical injury and product liability cases across the country. Ms. Homolash heads her firm's Vioxx, Bextra and Gadolinium litigations, as well as other product liability matters.

Recall of Medtronic Sprint Fidelis Lead Wires Exceed 250,000 Worldwide

On October 15, 2007, Medtronic issued a recall of its Sprint Fidelis defibrillator leads as a result of at least five patient deaths in which a lead fracture may have been a contributing cause. Sprint Fidelis Leads are certain models of cardiac electrodes (thin wires) that connect an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) directly to the heart. The recalled leads have been implanted in over 200,000 patients since 2004. Most patients with Medtronic defibrillators since 2004, and most patients who received Medtronic defibrillators since then have these leads. A small number of Sprint Fidelis leads are also used with defibrillators made by manufacturers other than Medtronic.

Medtronic estimates a 2.3 percent failure rate in patients with the Sprint Fidelis lead, or 4000 to 5000 people, will experience a lead fracture within 30 months of the device implantation. Replacement of the lead is a serious and delicate procedure which is far more dangerous than replacing the device itself because the lead wires are thread into the interior chamber of the heart.

Generally, patients with heart devices are issued device identification cards that will contain information about their heart device and leads. Patients can check this wallet card for the model number to see if their leads are under recall. The recalled leads are Sprint Fidelis Lead Model Nos. 6930, 6931, 6948 and 6949. These numbers may be shown at the beginning of a longer set of numbers on a patient's identification card.

Complaints against the company allege that a design defect is responsible for the lead fractures. The complaints also allege that Medtronic failed to act timely in recalling the lead as it has known of a large number of failures of the device since at least the end of 2006.

If you would like additional information regarding the aforementioned recall, or would like to speak to an attorney regarding bringing a potential case against Medtronic associated with the implantation of a Sprint Fidelis lead, please contact me directly.

Claudine Q. Homolash has successfully represented hundreds of patients across America who received faulty or recalled medical devices, including implantable cardiac defibrillators and pacemakers.