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Omniscan (Gadodiamide) - Warnings and Precautions

 
 



WARNING: NOT FOR INTRATHECAL USE and NEPHROGENIC SYSTEMIC FIBROSIS (NSF)

NOT FOR INTRATHECAL USE:

Inadvertent intrathecal use of OMNISCAN has caused convulsions, coma, sensory and motor neurologic deficits [ see Warnings and Precautions ].

NSF:

  • Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) increase the risk for NSF among patients with impaired elimination of the drugs. Avoid use of GBCAs in these patients unless the diagnostic information is essential and not available with non-contrasted MRI or other modalities. NSF may result in fatal or debilitating fibrosis affecting the skin, muscle and internal organs.
  • Do not administer OMNISCAN to patients with:
      chronic, severe kidney disease (GFR < 30 mL/min/1.73m2), or
    • acute kidney injury [see Contraindications (4) ].
  • Screen patients for acute kidney injury and other conditions that may reduce renal function. For patients at risk for chronically reduced renal function (e.g., age > 60 years, hypertension or diabetes), estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) through laboratory testing.
  • Do not exceed the recommended OMNISCAN dose and allow a sufficient period of time for elimination of the drug from the body prior to any readministration [see Warnings and Precautions ].
 

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Not for Intrathecal Use

Inadvertent intrathecal use of OMNISCAN has occurred and caused convulsions, coma, sensory and motor neurologic deficits.

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis

Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) increase the risk for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) among patients with impaired elimination of the drugs. Avoid use of GBCAs among these patients unless the diagnostic information is essential and not available with non-contrast enhanced MRI or other modalities. The GBCA-associated NSF risk appears highest for patients with chronic, severe kidney disease (GFR < 30 mL/min/1.73m2) as well as patients with acute kidney injury. Do not administer OMNISCAN to these patients. The risk appears lower for patients with chronic, moderate kidney disease (GFR 30-59 mL/min/1.73m2) and little, if any, for patients with chronic, mild kidney disease (GFR 60-89 mL/min/1.73m2). NSF may result in fatal or debilitating fibrosis affecting the skin, muscle and internal organs. Report any diagnosis of NSF following OMNISCAN administration to GE Healthcare (1-800-654-0118) or FDA (1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch).

Screen patients for acute kidney injury and other conditions that may reduce renal function. Features of acute kidney injury consist of rapid (over hours to days) and usually reversible decrease in kidney function, commonly in the setting of surgery, severe infection, injury or drug-induced kidney toxicity. Serum creatinine levels and estimated GFR may not reliably assess renal function in the setting of acute kidney injury. For patients at risk for chronically reduced renal function (e.g., age > 60 years, diabetes mellitus or chronic hypertension), estimate the GFR through laboratory testing.

Among the factors that may increase the risk for NSF are repeated or higher than recommended doses of a GBCA and the degree of renal impairment at the time of exposure. Record the specific GBCA and the dose administered to a patient. When administering OMNISCAN, do not exceed the recommended dose and allow a sufficient period of time for elimination of the drug prior to any readministration [see Boxed Warning, Contraindications (4), Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) and Dosage and Administration (2) ].

Hypersensitivity Reactions

Anaphylactoid and anaphylactic reactions, with cardiovascular, respiratory and/or cutaneous manifestations, resulting in death have occurred. If such a reaction occurs, stop OMNISCAN Injection and immediately begin appropriate therapy. Observe patients closely, particularly those with a history of drug reactions, asthma, allergy or other hypersensitivity disorders, during and up to several hours after OMNISCAN Injection.

Acute Renal Failure

In patients with renal insufficiency, acute renal failure requiring dialysis or worsening renal function have occurred, mostly within 48 hours of OMNISCAN Injection. The risk of renal failure may increase with increasing dose of gadolinium contrast. Use the lowest necessary dose of contrast and evaluate renal function in patients with renal insufficiency. Acute renal failure was observed in < 1% of patients in OMNISCAN clinical studies [see Adverse Reactions (6) ].

OMNISCAN is cleared by glomerular filtration. Hemodialysis also enhances OMNISCAN clearance [see Use in Specific Populations (8.5, 8.6) ].

Impaired Visualization of Lesions Detectable with Non-contrast MRI

Paramagnetic contrast agents such as OMNISCAN might impair the visualization of lesions which are seen on the non-contrast MRI. This may be due to effects of the paramagnetic contrast agent, or imaging parameters. Exercise caution when OMNISCAN MRI scans are interpreted in the absence of a companion noncontrast MRI.

Laboratory Test Findings

Asymptomatic, transitory changes in serum iron have been observed. The clinical significance is unknown.

OMNISCAN interferes with serum calcium measurements with some colorimetric (complexometric) methods commonly used in hospitals, resulting in serum calcium concentrations lower than the true values. In patients with normal renal function, this effect lasts for 12-24 hours. In patients with decreased renal function, the interference with calcium measurements is expected to last during the prolonged elimination of OMNISCAN. After patients receive OMNISCAN, careful attention should be used in selecting the type of method used to measure calcium.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category C: OMNISCAN has been shown to have an adverse effect on embryo-fetal development in rabbits at dosages as low as 0.5 mmol/kg/day for 13 days during gestation (approximately 0.6 times the human dose based on a body surface area comparison). These adverse effects are observed as an increased incidence of flexed appendages and skeletal malformations which may be due to maternal toxicity since the body weight of the dams was reduced in response to OMNISCAN administration during pregnancy. In rat studies, fetal abnormalities were not observed at doses up to 2.5 mmol/kg/day for 10 days during gestation (1.3 times the maximum human dose based on a body surface area comparison); however, maternal toxicity was not achieved in these studies and a definitive conclusion about teratogenicity in rats at doses above 2.5 mmol/kg/day cannot be made. Adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women have not been conducted. OMNISCAN should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Nursing Mothers

It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, exercise caution when administering OMNISCAN to a nursing woman.

Pediatric Use

The safety and efficacy of OMNISCAN at a single dose of 0.05 to 0.1 mmol/kg have been established in pediatric patients over 2 years of age based on adequate and well controlled studies of OMNISCAN in adults, a pediatric CNS imaging study, and safety data in the scientific literature. However, the safety and efficacy of doses greater than 0.1 mmol/kg and of repeated doses have not been studied in pediatric patients.

Pharmacokinetics of OMNISCAN have not been studied in pediatrics. The glomerular filtration rate of neonates and infants is much lower than that of adults. The pharmacokinetics volume of distribution is also different. Therefore, the optimal dosing regimen and imaging times in patients under 2 years of age have not been established.

Geriatric Use

In clinical studies of OMNISCAN, 243 patients were between 65 and 80 years of age while 15 were over 80. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these patients and younger patients. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in response between the elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity in the elderly cannot be ruled out. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.

OMNISCAN is excreted by the kidney, and the risk of toxic reactions to OMNISCAN is greater in patients with impaired renal function [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2, 5.4 ]. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, select dose carefully and assess eGFR by laboratory testing before OMNISCAN use.

Renal/Hepatic Impairment

Dose adjustments in renal or hepatic impairment have not been studied. Caution should be exercised in patients with impaired renal insufficiency [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2, 5.4) ].

Page last updated: 2012-02-15

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