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.
Treating Acute Tumor
Lysis Syndrome
It is important to identify concomitant therapies that may contribute to metabolic
abnormalities in patients with tumor lysis syndrome (TLS),
such as:
- Oral and IV electrolyte and/or dietary supplements
- Thiazide and potassium-sparing diuretics5
- Aspirin
- Probenecid
- ACE inhibitors (associated with increased potassium)
- Nephrotoxic agents (eg, aminoglycosides)
- Radiographic contrast media11
Patients who develop tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) are usually hospitalized so they
can be closely monitored. In addition to IV fluid administration, specific therapies
may be necessary to reduce uric acid, potassium, and phosphate levels; increase
calcium levels; and increase urine flow. The type of treatment used depends on the
severity of symptoms and the urgency of the patient's condition. Careful and frequent
cardiac monitoring also may be necessary for patients with tumor lysis syndrome
(TLS).5
10
Dialysis may be necessary in the case of severe renal impairment or acute renal
failure or to quickly correct metabolic abnormalities. In most cases, patients respond
well and normal kidney function is restored. 12,16
In order to avoid TLS - related hyperuricemia, clinicians should
consider assertive prophylactic measures, such as ELITEK (rasburicase),
especially in patients at risk for development of 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.