GAMMAGARD LIQUID Safety Information
- Boxed Warning
- Contraindications
- Warnings and precautions
- Adverse reactions
- Drug interactions
Warning: Thrombosis, Renal dysfunction, and Acute renal failure1
- Thrombosis may occur with immune globulin (IG) products, including GAMMAGARD LIQUID. Risk factors may include advanced age, prolonged immobilization, hypercoagulable conditions, history of venous or arterial thrombosis, use of estrogens, indwelling vascular catheters, hyperviscosity and cardiovascular risk factors. Thrombosis may occur in the absence of known risk factors.
- Renal dysfunction, acute renal failure, osmotic nephrosis, and death may occur in predisposed patients with immune globulin intravenous (IGIV) products. Patients predisposed to renal dysfunction include those with any degree of pre-existing renal insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, age greater than 65, volume depletion, sepsis, paraproteinemia, or patients receiving known nephrotoxic drugs. Renal dysfunction and acute renal failure occur more commonly in patients receiving IGIV products containing sucrose. GAMMAGARD LIQUID does not contain sucrose.
- For patients at risk of thrombosis, administer GAMMAGARD LIQUID at the minimum dose and infusion rate practicable. Ensure adequate hydration in patients before administration. Monitor for signs and symptoms of thrombosis and assess blood viscosity in patients at risk of hyperviscosity.
Contraindications1
- History of anaphylactic or severe systemic hypersensitivity reactions to human IG
- IgA-deficient patients with antibodies to IgA and a history of hypersensitivity to human IG. Anaphylaxis has been reported with intravenous (IV) use of GAMMAGARD LIQUID.
Warnings and Precautions1
Hypersensitivity
Severe hypersensitivity reactions may occur, even in patients who have tolerated previous treatment with human immune globulin. In case of hypersensitivity, discontinue GAMMAGARD LIQUID infusion immediately and institute appropriate treatment. IgA-deficient patients with antibodies to IgA are at greater risk of developing potentially severe hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis.
Renal Dysfunction/Failure
Acute renal dysfunction/failure, acute tubular necrosis, proximal tubular nephropathy, osmotic nephrosis, and death may occur with IV use of IG products, especially those containing sucrose. Ensure patients are not volume depleted prior to infusion. In patients at risk due to pre-existing renal insufficiency or predisposition to acute renal failure, assess renal function before initiation and throughout treatment, and use the minimum infusion rate practicable for IV administration. If renal function deteriorates, consider discontinuation.
Hyperproteinemia, increased serum viscosity, and hyponatremia
Hyperproteinemia, increased serum viscosity and hyponatremia may occur in patients receiving GAMMAGARD LIQUID. It is critical to distinguish true hyponatremia from a pseudohyponatremia because treatments may lead to volume depletion, a further increase in serum viscosity, and a predisposition to thromboembolic events.
Thrombosis
Thrombosis may occur following treatment with IG products and in the absence of known risk factors. In patients at risk, administer at the minimum dose and infusion rate practicable. Ensure adequate hydration before administration. Monitor for signs and symptoms of thrombosis and assess blood viscosity in patients at risk for hyperviscosity.
Aseptic meningitis syndrome
Has been reported with use of IG and may occur more frequently in females. Conduct a thorough neurological exam on patients exhibiting sign and symptoms, to rule out other causes of meningitis. Discontinuing IG treatment has resulted in remission within several days without sequelae.
Hemolysis
GAMMAGARD LIQUID contains blood group antibodies, which may cause a positive direct antiglobulin reaction and hemolysis. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of hemolysis and delayed hemolytic anemia and, if present, perform appropriate confirmation lab testing.
Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI)
Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema may occur with IV administered IG including GAMMAGARD LIQUID. Monitor patients for pulmonary adverse reactions. If suspected, perform appropriate tests for presence of anti-neutrophil and anti-HLA antibodies in both product and patient serum. May be managed using oxygen therapy with adequate ventilatory support.
Transmittable infectious agents
Because GAMMAGARD LIQUID is made from human plasma, it may carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents (e.g., viruses, other pathogens). No confirmed cases of viral transmission or variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) have been associated with GAMMAGARD LIQUID.
Interference with laboratory tests
False positive serological test results and certain assay readings, with the potential for misleading interpretation, may occur as the result of passively transferred antibodies.
Adverse Reactions1
The serious adverse reactions observed in clinical studies were aseptic meningitis, pulmonary embolism, and blurred vision.
The most common adverse reactions observed in ≥5% of subjects were:
IV administration for PI:
Headache, fatigue, pyrexia, nausea, chills, rigors, pain in extremity, diarrhea, migraine, dizziness, vomiting, cough, urticaria, asthma, pharyngolaryngeal pain, rash, arthralgia, myalgia, oedema peripheral, pruritus, and cardiac murmur.
Subcutaneous administration for PI:
Infusion site (local) event (rash, erythema, edema, hemorrhage, and irritation), headache, fatigue, heart rate increased, pyrexia, abdominal pain upper, nausea, vomiting, asthma, blood pressure systolic increased, diarrhea, ear pain, aphthous stomatitis, migraine, oropharyngeal pain, and pain in extremity.
IV administration for MMN:
Headache, chest discomfort, muscle spasms, muscular weakness, nausea, oropharyngeal pain, and pain in extremity.
IV administration for CIDP:
Headache, pyrexia, anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia, illness, blood creatinine increased, dizziness, migraine, somnolence, tremor, nasal dryness, abdominal pain upper, vomiting, chills, nasopharyngitis, and pain in extremity.
Drug interactions1
Passive transfer of antibodies may transiently interfere with immune responses to live attenuated virus vaccines (e.g., measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella).
Please click for Full Prescribing Information.
Review safety and tolerability information for IV and SC administration of GAMMAGARD LIQUID from the PI clinical trials
PI safety and side effects
Review safety and tolerability information for IV administration of GAMMAGARD LIQUID from the MMN clinical trial
MMN safety and side effects