KUALA LUMPUR: The Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has agreed to review a fatwa that forbids the use of blood-thinning medication derived from pig cells to treat blood clots among pregnant women.
Its communications chief, Zakaria Othman, said the Health Ministry must be consulted on the matter first before the department could bring it to the National Fatwa Council.
"Jakim has taken note of the suggestions (to lift the ban). We have no objections and are ready to bring the findings (of research done for the blood-thinning medication) to seek the committee's view," FMT quoted her as saying.
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (Usim) lecturer Zizi Azlinda Yusof had previously called for the review of the fatwa after the Statistics Department revealed that blood clots were the main cause of death among pregnant women last year.
However, she said the review should not be used to "legalise" pork-derived substances but only for use in a limited manner for pregnant women at risk of having blood clots.
She said there were three types of blood-thinning medicines available in the market — those derived from pigs (porcine), cows (bovine), and synthetic materials.
Zizi said clinical results show that porcine-based blood thinning medications were the most effective with no adverse reactions to the mother or the unborn child.
Blood-thinning medications made from porcine tissues are classified as low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), and they are marketed as "clexane".
According to Zizi, the ministry's clinical guideline book recommends clexane as the main choice for blood clot treatment for pregnant women.
"Blood thinning medication made of bovine cells (marketed as 'heparin') can also treat blood clots, but doctors do not prefer it because it can cause severe bleeding in pregnant women.
"Meanwhile, "arixtra", the blood thinning medication free from animal substances, poses the risk of the baby being born with deformities," she added.