AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals is facing a new PPI lawsuit from a New Jersey couple alleging serious kidney injuries. The couple alleges the PPI (proton pump inhibitor) medication Nexium caused the husband to suffer acute kidney damage and chronic kidney disease, causing chronic medical problems that the couple will have to contend with.

Plaintiff couple Marshall J. and Nancy S. are conjointly filing this PPI lawsuit after Marshall allegedly incurred permanent kidney damage as a result of the medication. Marshall was prescribed Nexium on a number of different occasions between May 2006 to February 2015 to treat a variety of conditions like acid reflux and indigestion, common conditions Nexium treats.

This drug and other proton pump inhibitors work by inhibiting the body from secreting stomach acid. This treatment mechanism reduces the symptoms of heart burn, ulcers and acid reflux, conditions affecting millions of consumers in America.

However, the medication label failed to warn against kidney damage. Marshall and other consumers were widely unaware of the alleged correlation. According to the PPI lawsuit, Marshall experienced acute kidney injuries and chronic kidney disease in 2014 and has had to contend with the conditions ever since.

Marshall and Nancy filed the PPI lawsuit upon learning of the alleged link after the FDA warned that using Nexium could increase the chances acute interstitial nephritis.

Overview of Nexium Kidney Complications

The correlation between proton pump inhibitors and kidney problems has been exhibited in recent studies which have found that the drugs significantly increased the risk.

Both Prilosec and Nexium, some of the most popular medications for heart burn and indigestion, have been linked to kidney problems.

One of the most significant studies was published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology which found that proton pump inhibitors had an increased risk of kidney problems compared to other heart burn medications.

The study found a 96% increased risk of kidney failure when patients took proton pump inhibitors, as well as a 28% increased risk of chronic kidney disease. This risk was comparatively higher than that associated with H2 receptor blockers.

A similar study published in the February 2016 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found a potential link between chronic kidney disease and other proton pump inhibitors.

This study and other concerning inputs led the FDA to release the public warning. This resulted in numerous PPI lawsuits to be filed against the manufacturing company.

Even though these problems could be potentially dangerous to patients, AstraZeneca allegedly failed to disclose this information to the public. Marshall states that he never would have used Nexium if he had known the risk of chronic kidney problems.

This PPI lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-01606-BRM-DEA, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Newark Division.