Yaz Settlement News

by Steve Fields on January 21st, 2010

Currently women who have suffered from Yaz and Yasmin birth control side effects are continuing to come forward and making claims against the manufacturer. Many individuals and families are wondering about the status of the litigation and wondering about Yaz settlement amounts. The multi-district litigation is moving forward and more information is being requested from the manufacturer through the discovery process. There have not been any Yasmin or Yaz settlements at this point in the lawsuits.

Yaz Blood Clots: Diagnosis Through Ultrasound, D-Dimer, And Venography

Yaz blood clots have afflicted many healthy women who have no prior history of abnormal clotting. The reason is due to the combination of estrogen and drospirenone (a synthetic progestin hormone) contained within Yaz birth control pills. Research has shown that drospirenone poses a much higher risk of developing blood clots than other hormones such as levonorgestrel.

Blood clots caused by Yaz can form within the deep veins of your legs, arms, or pelvis. This is known as deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. Left untreated, the clots can break away and drift with your bloodstream toward your lungs and heart. Migrating blood clots are dangerous; they can cause Yaz pulmonary embolism, stroke, and heart attack.

Deep vein thrombosis is often difficult to diagnose because symptoms can be caused by many different factors. Multiple tests are usually required to make a conclusive diagnosis. Below, you’ll learn how doctors use Doppler ultrasonography, d-Dimer testing, and venography to detect Yaz blood clots.

Doppler Ultrasonography

Ultrasound is the use of high-frequency sound waves that generate moving images of your blood vessels by bouncing between internal structures. Conventional ultrasound techniques include M-mode (typically used to study the heart) and two-dimensional ultrasonography. A more advanced approach is Doppler ultrasonography.

Doppler ultrasound creates images that show the direction of your blood flow as well as its velocity. In doing so, it helps doctors identify abnormalities such as valvular problems and venous compressibility. Both circumstances suggest the presence of blood clots.

D-Dimer Testing: Uses And Limitations

A d-Dimer test measures the level of fibrin particles in your bloodstream. Fibrin is a byproduct of your body’s natural clot-dissolving mechanism. As such, high levels increase a doctor’s estimated probability of blood clots.

The limitation of a d-Dimer test is that it is nonspecific and hence, inconclusive. While a low to normal level of fibrin fragments can safely exclude DVT, a high level is merely suggestive. It may be caused by pregnancy, infection, liver disease, or other contributing factors.

Venography: The Gold Standard For Yaz Blood Clots

Venography requires the injection of a contrast dye into the blood vessel suspected of harboring blood clots. The dye shows up on X-ray images of your veins. Your doctor can study the X-rays to identify areas within the veins where blood flow is slow. Such areas imply the presence of clots.

Doppler ultrasound has all but replaced venography as the main test for diagnosing DVT and Yaz blood clots. This is because ultrasonography is nearly as accurate and is noninvasive. Venography is usually performed when an ultrasound is unable to definitively diagnose DVT, yet the suspicion of blood clots remains high.

A Typical Testing Path For Yaz DVT

Ultrasonography is the first test normally done to diagnose deep vein thrombosis. If the estimated probability of blood clots is low, a d-Dimer test may be performed to exclude DVT. If the probability of clotting is high, an elevated d-Dimer test is usually done. Sometimes, these tests are performed concurrently.

If the ultrasound and elevated d-Dimer test are inconclusive, yet the suspicion of DVT remains high, a venogram will often be performed. If both tests suggest a low probability of blood clots, another ultrasound may be done within a week with a follow-up after two or three months.

The reason doctors take great care in diagnosing Yasmin DVT is because the condition can lead to life-threatening circumstances, such as pulmonary embolism, stroke, and heart attack. If you or someone you know has developed blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, or other Yaz birth control side effects, you may be able to file a Yaz lawsuit for compensation. Contact a Yaz attorney to discuss your case. There is never any cost or obligation for us to review your case.