Monograph: |
Alglucerase
Class: Enzyme replacement
Trade Names:
Ceredase
- Solution for injection 80 units/mL
Pharmacology
Catalyzes the hydrolysis of glucocerebroside to glucose and ceramide as part of the normal degradation pathway for membrane lipids.
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption
Steady-state enzymatic activity and AUC of the activity increased linearly with the infused dose.
Distribution
Vd ranged from 49.4 to 282.1 mL/kg.
Elimination
Plasma Cl, based on plasma enzymatic activity, ranged from 6.34 to 25.39 mL/min/kg.
Onset
Following IV infusion over a 4-h period, steady-state enzymatic activity is achieved by 60 min.
Duration
Following infusion termination, plasma enzymatic activity declined rapidly with an elimination t Β½ ranging from 3.6 to 10.4 min.
Indications and Usage
Long-term replacement therapy for patients with confirmed diagnosis of type 1 Gaucher disease who exhibit signs and symptoms severe enough to result in moderate to severe anemia, thrombocytopenia with bleeding tendency, bone disease, and/or hepatomegaly or splenomegaly.
Unlabeled Uses
Orphan drug status for replacement therapy in types 2 and 3 Gaucher disease.
Contraindications
Standard considerations.
Dosage and Administration
Adults and children 2 yr of age and older
IV Infuse dose over 1 to 2 h. Individualize dosage. Initial dosage may be as little as 2.5 units/kg 3 times a week up to 60 units/kg as frequently as once a week or as infrequently as every 4 wk. After response is well established, a reduction in dosage may be attempted for maintenance therapy. Progressive reductions can be made at intervals of 3 to 6 mo while carefully monitoring response parameters.
General Advice
Β· Do not shake.
Β· Inspect for particulate matter and discoloration before use.
Storage/Stability
Store at 36Β° to 46Β°F. When diluted to 100 to 200 mL, product is stable for up to 18 h when stored at 36Β° to 46Β°F.
Drug Interactions
None well documented.
Laboratory Test Interactions
False-positive pregnancy test.
Adverse Reactions
Cardiovascular
Hypotension, vasomotor irritability or hot flash.
CNS
Fatigue, headache, weakness.
EENT
Impaired sense of smell.
GI
Diarrhea, nausea, oral ulcers, vomiting.
Genitourinary
Menstrual abnormalities.
Local
Burning and swelling or sterile abscess at venipuncture site, discomfort, pruritus.
Musculoskeletal
Backache.
Miscellaneous
Abdominal discomfort, chills, hypersensitivity (abdominal cramping, chest discomfort, flushing, nausea, pruritus, respiratory symptoms, urticaria/angioedema with occasional upper airway involvement), slight fever, transient peripheral edema.
Precautions
Pregnancy
Category C .
Lactation
May be excreted in breast milk.
Children
Safety and efficacy not established in children younger than 2 yr of age.
Hypersensitivity
Use with caution in patients exhibiting symptoms of hypersensitivity; pretreatment with antihistamines has allowed continued use in some patients.
Special Risk Patients
Use with caution in patients with androgen-sensitive malignancies.
Antibodies
Approximately 13% of patients may develop immunoglobulin G antibody during first yr of therapy, of which 25% may experience symptoms of hypersensitivity.
Infections
Because alglucerase is prepared from pooled human placental tissue, there is a risk of transmission of infectious agents (eg, viruses), including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Overdosage
Symptoms
No obvious toxicity detected after doses up to 234 units/kg.
Patient Information
Β· Advise patient that this medicine is usually administered at health care provider's office, hospital, or clinic.
Β· Advise patient who is using the medicine at home to follow the injection procedures taught by health care provider.
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