Acute allergic-type reactions among patients undergoing hemodialysis--multiple states, 2007-2008.

CDC is investigating an outbreak of acute allergic-type reactions among patients who have undergone hemodialysis since November 19, 2007. The majority of reactions have occurred among adult hemodialysis patients, with onset within minutes of initiating a hemodialysis session. Although the cause of the outbreak is unknown and remains under investigation, the majority of reactions occurred in patients who received intravenous heparin produced by Baxter Healthcare Corporation (Deerfield, Illinois). Baxter voluntarily recalled nine lots of heparin multidose vials after learning of these adverse events among patients who received heparin during dialysis. This report describes the ongoing investigation.