Alvograstim Special Precautions

The medicine should not be used to increase the dose of cytotoxic chemotherapy beyond established dosage regimens.
The medicine should not be administered to patients with severe congenital neutropenia who develop leukaemia or have evidence of leukaemic evolution.
Malignant cell growth: Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor can promote growth of myeloid cells in vitro and similar effects may be seen on some non-myeloid cells in vitro.
The safety and efficacy of filgrastim administration in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome, or chronic myelogenous leukaemia have not been established.
The medicine is not indicated for use in these conditions. Particular care should be taken to distinguish the diagnosis of blast transformation of chronic myeloid leukaemia from acute myeloid leukaemia.
In view of limited safety and efficacy data in patients with secondary AML, Alvograstim should be administered with caution.
The safety and efficacy of filgrastim administration in de novo AML patients aged <55 years with good cytogenetics (t(8;21), t(15;17), and inv(16)) have not been established.
Other special precautions: Monitoring of bone density may be indicated in patients with underlying osteoporotic bone diseases who undergo continuous therapy with Alvograstim for more than 6 months.
Pulmonary adverse effects, in particular interstitial pneumonia, have been reported after G-CSF administration. Patients with a recent history of lung infiltrates or pneumonia may be at higher risk. The onset of pulmonary signs, such as cough, fever and dyspnoea in association with radiological signs of pulmonary infiltrates and deterioration in pulmonary function may be preliminary signs of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Alvograstim should be discontinued and appropriate treatment given.
Special precautions in cancer patients: Risks associated with increased doses of chemotherapy: Special caution should be used when treating patients with high dose chemotherapy, because improved tumour outcome has not been demonstrated and intensified doses of chemotherapeutic agents may lead increased toxicities including cardiac, pulmonary, neurologic, and dermatologic effects (please refer to the prescribing information of the specific chemotherapy agents used).
Treatment with Alvograstim alone does not preclude thrombocytopenia and anaemia due to myelosuppressive chemotherapy. Because of the potential of receiving higher doses of chemotherapy (e.g., full doses on the prescribed schedule) the patient may be at greater risk of thrombocytopenia and anaemia. Regular monitoring of platelet count and haematocrit is recommended. Special care should be taken when administering single or combination chemotherapeutic agents which are known to cause severe thrombocytopenia.
The use of Alvograstim-mobilised PBPCs has been shown to reduce the depth and duration of thrombocytopenia following myelosuppressive or myeloablative chemotherapy.
Other special precautions: The effects of Alvograstim in patients with substantially reduced myeloid progenitors have not been studied. Alvograstim acts primarily on neutrophil precursors to exert its effect in elevating neutrophil counts. Therefore, in patients with reduced precursors neutrophil response may be diminished (such as those treated with extensive radiotherapy or chemotherapy, or those with bone marrow infiltration by tumour).
There have been reports of GvHD and fatalities in patients receiving G-CSF after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.
Increased haematopoietic activity of the bone marrow in response to growth factor therapy has been associated with transient abnormal bone scans. This should be considered when interpreting bone-imaging results.
Special precautions in patients undergoing PBPC mobilisation: Mobilisation: There are no prospectively randomised comparisons of the two recommended mobilisation methods (Alvograstim alone, or in combination with myelosuppressive chemotherapy) within the same patient population. The degree of variation between individual patients and between laboratory assays of CD34⁺ cells mean that direct comparison between different studies is difficult. It is therefore difficult to recommend an optimum method. The choice of mobilisation method should be considered in relation to the overall objectives of treatment for an individual patient.
Prior exposure to cytotoxic agents: Patients who have undergone very extensive prior myelosuppressive therapy may not show sufficient mobilisation of PBPC to achieve the recommended minimum yield (≥2.0 x 10⁶ CD34⁺ cells/kg) or acceleration of platelet recovery, to the same degree.
Some cytotoxic agents exhibit particular toxicities to the haematopoietic progenitor pool, and may adversely affect progenitor mobilisation. Agents such as melphalan, carmustine (BCNU), and carboplatin, when administered over prolonged periods prior to attempts at progenitor mobilisation may reduce progenitor yield. However, the administration of melphalan, carboplatin or BCNU together with filgrastim, has been shown to be effective for progenitor mobilisation. When a PBPC transplantation is envisaged it is advisable to plan the stem cell mobilisation procedure early in the treatment course of the patient. Particular attention should be paid to the number of progenitors mobilised in such patients before the administration of high-dose chemotherapy. If yields are inadequate, as measured by the criteria above, alternative forms of treatment, not requiring progenitor support should be considered.
Assessment of progenitor cell yields: In assessing the number of progenitor cells harvested in patients treated with filgrastim, particular attention should be paid to the method of quantitation. The results of flow cytometric analysis of CD34⁺ cell numbers vary depending on the precise methodology used and recommendations of numbers based on studies in other laboratories need to be interpreted with caution.
Statistical analysis of the relationship between the number of CD34⁺ cells re-infused and the rate of platelet recovery after high-dose chemotherapy indicates a complex but continuous relationship.
The recommendation of a minimum yield ≥2.0 x 10⁶ CD34⁺ cells/kg is based on published experience resulting in adequate haematologic reconstitution. Yields in excess of this appear to correlate with more rapid recovery, those below with slower recovery.
Special precautions in normal donors undergoing PBPC mobilisation: Mobilisation of PBPC does not provide a direct clinical benefit to normal donors and should only be considered for the purposes of allogenic stem cell transplantation.
PBPC mobilisation should be considered only in donors who meet normal clinical and laboratory eligibility criteria for stem cell donation with special attention to haematological values and infectious disease.
The safety and efficacy of filgrastim have not been assessed in normal donors <16 years or >60 years.
Transient thrombocytopenia (platelets <100 x 10⁹/L) following filgrastim administration and leukapheresis was observed in 35% of subjects studied. Among these, two cases of platelets <50 x 10⁹/L were reported and attributed to the leukapheresis procedure.
If more than one leukapheresis is required, particular attention should be paid to donors with platelets <100 x 10⁹/L prior to leukapheresis; in general apheresis should not be performed if platelets <75 x 10⁹/L. Leukapheresis should not be performed in donors who are anticoagulated or who have known defects in haemostasis.
Filgrastim administration should be discontinued or its dosage should be reduced if the leukocyte counts rise to >70 x 10⁹/L.
Donors who receive G-CSFs for PBPC mobilisation should be monitored until haematological indices return to normal.
Transient cytogenetic abnormalities have been observed in normal donors following G-CSF use. The significance of these changes is unknown.
Long-term safety follow-up of donors is ongoing. Nevertheless, a risk of promotion of a malignant myeloid clone can not be excluded. It is recommended that the apheresis centre perform a systematic record and tracking of the stem cell donors for at least 10 years to ensure monitoring of long-term safety.
Common but generally asymptomatic cases of splenomegaly and very rare cases of splenic rupture have been reported in healthy donors (and patients) following administration of granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (G-CSFs). Some cases of splenic rupture were fatal. Therefore, spleen size should be carefully monitored (e.g. clinical examination, ultrasound). A diagnosis of splenic rupture should be considered in donors and/or patients reporting left upper abdominal pain or shoulder tip pain.
In normal donors, pulmonary adverse events (haemoptysis, pulmonary haemorrhage, lung infiltrates, dyspnoea and hypoxia) have been reported very rarely in post marketing experience. In case of suspected or confirmed pulmonary adverse events, discontinuation of treatment with filgrastim should be considered and appropriate medical care given.
Special precaution in recipients of allogenic PBPCs mobilised with Alvograstim: Current data indicate that immunological interactions between the allogeneic PBPC graft and the recipient may be associated with an increased risk of acute and chronic GvHD when compared with bone marrow transplantation.
Special precautions in SCN patients: Blood cell counts: Platelet counts should be monitored closely, especially during the first few weeks of filgrastim therapy. Consideration should be given to intermittent cessation or decreasing the dose of filgrastim in patients who develop thrombocytopenia, i.e. platelets consistently <100,000/mm³.
Other blood cell changes occur, including anaemia and transient increases in myeloid progenitors, which require close monitoring of cell counts.
Transformation to leukaemia or myelodysplastic syndrome: Special care should be taken in the diagnosis of SCNs to distinguish them from other haematopoietic disorders such as aplastic anaemia, myelodysplasia, and myeloid leukaemia. Complete blood cell counts with differential and platelet counts, and an evaluation of bone marrow morphology and karyotype should be performed prior to treatment.
Other special precautions: Causes of transient neutropenia, such as viral infections should be excluded.
Splenomegaly is a direct effect of treatment with filgrastim. Thirty-one percent (31%) of patients in studies were documented as having palpable splenomegaly. Increases in volume, measured radiographically, occurred early during filgrastim therapy and tended to plateau. Dose reductions were noted to slow or stop the progression of splenic enlargement, and in 3% of patients a splenectomy was required. Spleen size should be evaluated regularly. Abdominal palpation should be sufficient to detect abnormal increases in splenic volume.
Haematuria/proteinuria occurred in a small number of patients. Regular urinalysis should be performed to monitor this event.
The safety and efficacy in neonates and patients with autoimmune neutropenia have not been established.
Special precautions in patients with HIV infection: Blood cell counts: Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) should be monitored closely, especially during the first few weeks of filgrastim therapy. Some patients may respond very rapidly and with a considerable increase in neutrophil count to the initial dose of filgrastim. It is recommended that the ANC is measured daily for the first 2-3 days of filgrastim administration. Thereafter, it is recommended that the ANC is measured at least twice per week for the first two weeks and subsequently once per week or once every other week during maintenance therapy. During intermittent dosing with 30 MU (300 µg)/day of filgrastim, there can be wide fluctuations in the patient's ANC over time. In order to determine a patient's trough or nadir ANC, it is recommended that blood samples are taken for ANC measurement immediately prior to any scheduled dosing with filgrastim.
Risk associated with increased doses of myelosuppressive medications: Treatment with filgrastim alone does not preclude thrombocytopenia and anaemia due to myelosuppressive medications. As a result of the potential to receive higher doses or a greater number of these medications with filgrastim therapy, the patient may be at higher risk of developing thrombocytopenia and anaemia. Regular monitoring of blood counts is recommended (see previous discussions).
Infections and malignancies causing myelosuppression: Neutropenia may be due to bone marrow infiltrating opportunistic infections such as Mycobacterium avium complex or malignancies such as lymphoma. In patients with known bone marrow infiltrating infections or malignancy, consider appropriate therapy for treatment of the underlying condition, in addition to administration of filgrastim for treatment of neutropenia. The effects of filgrastim on neutropenia due to bone marrow infiltrating infection or malignancy have not been well established.
Special precautions in sickle cell disease: Sickle cell crises, in some cases fatal, have been reported with the use of filgrastim in subjects with sickle cell disease. Physicians should exercise caution when considering the use of filgrastim in patients with sickle cell disease, and only after careful evaluation of the potential risks and benefits.
Alvograstim contains Sorbitol. Patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance should not take this medicine.
Alvograstim contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) Sodium per 0.3 mg/ml, i.e. essentially "Sodium free".
In order to improve the traceability of granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (G-CSFs), the trade name of the administered product should be clearly recorded in the patient file.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines: No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed.