Nexium Lawsuit Attorneys at Bernstein Liebhard LLP Note New Study Linking Proton Pump Inhibitors to "Silent" Kidney Damage

NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study suggests that proton pump inhibitor users who go on to develop chronic kidney disease may not experience any acute kidney problems early on, leaving many unaware of the decline in renal function. The research, which appeared this month in Kidney International, compared data from the Department of Veterans Affairs databases on 125,596 new proton pump inhibitor users with over 18,000 patients newly-treated with H2 blockers. The subjects were followed for five years.

During follow-up, more than 80% of those using proton pump inhibitors did not develop acute kidney problems. However, over half of the cases of chronic kidney damage and end stage renal disease occurred in this group. By contrast, just 7.67% of those treated with H2 blockers developed chronic kidney disease in the absence of acute kidney problems, and only 1.27% developed end-stage renal disease.

"Our Firm is representing a number of clients who were diagnosed with serious renal issues, including chronic kidney disease and kidney failure, following long-term proton pump inhibitor treatment. This study is a great reminder that these popular heartburn medications may be associated with some significant side effects," says Sandy A. Liebhard, a partner at Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The Firm is now offering free legal reviews to individuals who were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, kidney failure, acute kidney injury, or acute interstitial nephritis following extended use of prescription or over-the-counter proton pump inhibitors.

Proton Pump Inhibitors and the Kidneys
Proton pump inhibitors, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs like Nexium, Prilosec and PrevAcid, are indicated for the short-term treatment of GERD and peptic disorders. In 2013, more than 15 million Americans used prescription proton pump inhibitors, at a cost of more than $10 billion. However, it has been estimated that between 25% and 70% of these prescriptions have no appropriate indication.

In 2014, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) ordered that the labeling for prescription proton pump inhibitors be modified with new information about acute interstitial nephritis, a sudden inflammation of the kidney tubules that is often the result of an allergic reaction to a medication. Untreated, the disorder can lead to chronic kidney disease and renal failure.

In April 2015, a study published in CMAJ Open  linked proton pump inhibitors to a 3-fold increase in the risk for acute interstitial nephritis, as well as a 2.5 times higher risk of acute kidney injury. Research published in JAMA Internal Medicine in January 2016 suggested that this class of heartburn medications might increase the risk of chronic kidney disease by as much as 50%.  The following April, scientists writing in the  Journal of the American Society of Nephrology reported that long-term users of proton pump inhibitors may be 96% more likely to develop kidney failure and 28% more likely to develop chronic kidney disease compared to patients using H2-blockers.

Compensation may be available to individuals who were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, kidney failure, or other serious renal problems following long-term treatment with a proton pump inhibitor. To learn more about filing a proton pump inhibitor lawsuit, please visit Bernstein Liebhard LLP's website, or call 800-511-5092 to arrange for a free, no obligation case review.

About Bernstein Liebhard LLP
Bernstein Liebhard LLP is a New York-based law firm exclusively representing injured persons in complex individual and class action lawsuits nationwide since 1993. As a national law firm, Bernstein Liebhard LLP possesses all of the legal and financial resources required to successfully challenge billion dollar pharmaceutical and medical device companies. As a result, our attorneys and legal staff have been able to recover more than $3.5 billion on behalf of our clients. Bernstein Liebhard LLP is honored to once again be named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List," recognizing the top plaintiffs firms in the country. This year's nomination marks the thirteenth year the firm has been named to this prestigious annual list.

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ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2017 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, 800-511-5092. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

Contact Information: 
Sandy A. Liebhard, Esq. 
Bernstein Liebhard LLP 
info(at)consumerinjurylawyers(dot)com
http://www.rxinjuryhelp.com/ 
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