Patients that are in end stage-renal disease depend on dialysis machines. Without these machines that remove the toxins from their blood that normally the kidneys would remove, they die. One of the world's largest manufacturers of kidney dialysis machines, Baxter International, globally recalled three types of their dialysis blood filters on October 18, 2001.

The filters have been linked to more than 30 European deaths. Baxter released a letter on November 5, 2001 indicating that they believe the possible culprit was a fluid used in the manufacturing of these filters. The filters specifically that were affected are the A, AX, and AF series blood dialyzer filters.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other health authorities are investigating 51 deaths from this summer and fall, including 23 in Croatia last month, 15 in Spain, seven in Taiwan, two in Colombia and two each in Texas and Nebraska. All were using Baxter dialysis filters, or dialyzers, which help remove waste from the blood of patients with failed kidneys.

Expecting numerous lawsuits from patients' families, Baxter has set aside $100 million to $150 million for litigation and related expenses.