Elitek® is indicated for the initial management of plasma
uric acid levels in pediatric and adult patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and solid
tumor malignancies who are receiving anti-cancer therapy expected to result in tumor
lysis and subsequent elevation of plasma uric acid. ELITEK is indicated for
only a single course of treatment.
Managing Tumor Lysis Syndrome
For patients deemed at risk for tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), the primary goal is
prevention. This requires a multifaceted approach, and preventative measures should
be started 24 to 48 hours before initiating chemotherapy5,9.
The clinical signs and laboratory indications of TLS should be evaluated prior to
starting treatment in order to identify at-risk patients.3 While individual patient management may vary, the
cornerstones of current treatment and prevention of malignancy-associated TLS include*3,7,12:
- Hydration
- Diuresis
- Uric acid reduction
Current research suggests that ELITEK (rasburicase) may provide both effective
management of hyperuricemia leading to TLS as well as a well-established safety profile.15
Tumor Lysis Syndrome Prevention*5,10,13
*While alkalinization has historically been used to treat hyperuricemia leading
to TLS, the advent of agents such as ELITEK (rasburicase) has led researches
to suggest a new paradigm in the prevention and management of this disorder.15 Urine alkalinization
has been associated with precipitation of calcium phosphate in the renal tubules,
leading to acute renal failure as well as the development of hypocalcemia.3,5 The benefit of alkalinization has not been unequivocally
established for the management of tumor lysis syndrome (TLS).
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION INCLUDING BOXED WARNING
Important Safety Information
BOXED WARNINGS
Anaphylaxis:
ELITEK can cause severe hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis.
Immediately and permanently discontinue ELITEK in patients who experience
a serious hypersensitivity reaction.
Hemolysis:
Do not administer ELITEK to patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase
(G6PD) deficiency. Immediately and permanently discontinue ELITEK in patients
developing hemolysis. Screen patients at higher risk for G6PD deficiency (e.g.,
patients of African or Mediterranean ancestry) prior to starting ELITEK.
Methemoglobinemia:
ELITEK can result in methemoglobinemia in some patients. Immediately and
permanently discontinue ELITEK in patients developing methemoglobinemia.
Interference With Uric Acid Measurements:
ELITEK enzymatically degrades uric acid in blood samples left at room temperature.
Collect blood samples in pre-chilled tubes containing heparin and immediately immerse
and maintain sample in an ice water bath. Assay plasma samples within 4 hours of
collection.
Among the 347 (265 pediatric; 82 adult) patients for whom all adverse reactions
regardless of severity were assessed in Studies 1, 2 and 3, as well as an uncontrolled
safety trial, the most frequently observed adverse reactions (incidence ≥10%) were
vomiting (50%), fever (46%), nausea (27%), headache (26%), abdominal pain (20%),
constipation (20%), diarrhea (20%), mucositis (15%), and rash (13%).
Among the 275 adult patients in Study 4, hypersensitivity reactions occurred in
4.3% of patients treated with the ELITEK alone and 1.1% of patients treated
with the ELITEK/oral allopurinol combination. Hypersensitivity reactions
included arthralgia, injection site irritation, peripheral edema, and rash. The
most common Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions regardless of relationship to study drug
in the 3 arms of Study 4 (ELITEK alone; ELITEK combined with oral
allopurinol; oral allopurinol alone) were sepsis (5.4%; 6.5%; 4.4%), hypophosphatemia
(4.3%; 6.5%; 6.6%), anxiety (3.3%; 0%; 0%), abdominal pain (3.3%; 4.3%; 2.2%), hyperbilirubinemia
(3.3%; 2.2%; 4.4%), and increased alanine aminotransferase (3.3%; 4.3%; 2.2%), respectively.
The following serious adverse reactions occurred with a difference in incidence
of greater than or equal to 2% in patients receiving ELITEK compared to patients
receiving oral allopurinol in randomized studies (Study 1 and Study 4): pulmonary
hemorrhage, respiratory failure, supraventricular arrhythmias, ischemic coronary
artery disorders, and abdominal and gastrointestinal infections.
Indication
ELITEK® is indicated for the initial management of plasma
uric acid levels in pediatric and adult patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and solid
tumor malignancies who are receiving anticancer therapy expected to result in tumor
lysis and subsequent elevation of plasma uric acid. ELITEK is indicated for
only a single course of treatment.
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information, including Boxed
WARNING.