KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 17, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Peterson & Associates, P.C. (www.petersonlawfirm.com) announces that it is investigating claims involving various drugs classified as ACE inhibitors that potentially cause birth injuries, including heart problems, gastrointestinal problems, and central nervous system defects.
ACE inhibitors are a class of drugs that are prescribed to regulate high blood pressure. ACE inhibitor drugs include Vasotec(r), Prinivil(r)/Zestril(r), Monopril(r), Lotensin(r), Altace(r), Aceon(r), Accupril(r), Mavik(r), Univasc(r) and Capoten(r). ACE inhibitors work by activating an enzyme that helps constrict blood vessels. A recently released national survey stated that 2.7 million women of childbearing age were prescribed an ACE inhibitor in 2002, and total prescriptions in 2005 reached 150 million.
Recently, the New England Journal of Medicine reported that ACE inhibitors may cause birth defects when taken in the first trimester of pregnancy. ACE inhibitors have already been linked with an increased risk of birth defects when used in the second and third trimester. Indications from two studies show that women who take ACE inhibitors during the first trimester of pregnancy may be approximately three times as likely to have a child with a birth defect.
If you or someone you know had a baby with birth defects after taking ACE inhibitors during pregnancy, please contact Peterson & Associates, P.C. at 1-800-305-7552 for a free case evaluation, or go to www.petersonlawfirm.com.
About Peterson & Associates, P.C.
Peterson & Associates, P.C. is a leading products liability and personal injury law firm that has collected over $300 million in settlements and judgments for its clients. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri on the Country Club Plaza, Peterson & Associates, P.C. represents clients nationwide. Under the guidance of the firm's president, David M. Peterson, Peterson & Associates, P.C. has collected compensation for thousands of clients who have suffered injuries from using dangerous medications. The Firm is currently representing individuals injured by Ortho Evra(r), Vioxx(r), Bextra(r), Celebrex(r), Zyprexa(r), Fen-Phen and from exposure to Benzene. For more information on Peterson & Associates, P.C., please visit www.petersonlawfirm.com or call 1-800-305-7552 or 816-531-4440.