What is Fournier’s Gangrene?

Fournier’s gangrene is another name for necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum. The condition usually occurs in less than 2 out of every 100,000 American males annually. Women rarely experience the disease. Those who take SGLT2 inhibitors, however, saw a sharp uptick in the condition.

Necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum is a bacterial infection, and if left untreated, it can be a fatal condition. This is why it’s important to recognize the symptoms of Fournier’s gangrene and quickly seek medical attention.

Symptoms of Fournier’s Gangrene

• Tenderness or redness around genital area.
• Swelling around the genital area.
• The previous two symptoms leading back to the rectum.
• Fever of 100.4 F.
• General unwell feeling.

An attorney with Fournier’s gangrene experience may be able to help recover compensation if you or a loved one experiences this condition. Unfortunately, there are filing deadlines. The most important thing is to seek medical assistance, but afterwards, call us immediately to ensure the statute of limitations doesn’t pass.

SGLT2 Inhibitors

SGLT2 inhibitors help Type II diabetes patients by allowing their kidneys to remove more sugar. By doing this, the drugs lessened the chance of blindness, kidney damage, heart disease and nerve damage. There are several classes of these medications.

Empagliflozin (Syjardy, Glyxambi, Synjardy XR)

Ertugliflozin (Stelujan, Segluromet, Steglatro)

Dapagliflozin (Qtern, Xigduo, Farxiga)

Canagliflozin (Invokamet, Invokamet XR, Invokana)

These medications are produced by Merck, Janssen, Boehringer Ingelheim/Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca. Studies found that other Type II diabetes treatments, however, didn’t have the same potential for necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum.

Only 6 men using other diabetes medications were diagnosed with Fournier’s gangrene between 1984 and 2018. When looking at those using SGLT2 inhibitors, though, 7 men and 5 women were diagnosed in just the 5 years prior to 2018.

If you’re unlucky enough to develop this condition, call us immediately. Your medical bills can pile up quickly, and without legal help, you could be footing the bill yourself.