home > drugs a-z list > prohance (gadoteridol injection solution) drug center > prohance (gadoteridol injection solution) drug - warnings and precautions

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF)

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. 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 ProHance (gadoteridol injection solution) administration to Bracco Diagnostics (1-800-257-8151) 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. For patients at highest risk for NSF, do not exceed the recommended ProHance (gadoteridol injection solution) dose and allow a sufficient period of time for elimination of the drug prior to re-administration. For patients receiving hemodialysis, physicians may consider the prompt initiation of hemodialysis following the administration of a GBCA in order to enhance the contrast agent's elimination. The usefulness of hemodialysis in the prevention of NSF is unknown (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).

Deoxygenated sickle erythrocytes have been shown in in vitro studies to align perpendicular to a magnetic field which may result in vaso-occlusive complications in vivo. The enhancement of magnetic moment by ProHance (gadoteridol injection solution) may possibly potentiate sickle erythrocyte alignment. ProHance (gadoteridol injection solution) in patients with sickle cell anemia and other hemoglobinopathies has not been studied.

Patients with other hemolytic anemias have not been adequately evaluated following administration of ProHance (gadoteridol injection solution) to exclude the possibility of increased hemolysis.

Patients with a history of allergy, drug reactions or other hypersensitivity-like disorders should be closely observed during the procedure and for several hours after drug administration. (See PRECAUTIONS - General).

General

Gadoteridol is cleared from the body by glomerular filtration. The hepato-biliary enteric pathway of excretion has not been demonstrated with ProHance® (gadoteridol injection solution) . Dose adjustments in renal or hepatic impairment have not been studied. Therefore, caution should be exercised in patients with either renal or hepatic impairment.

In a patient with a history of grand mal seizure, the possibility to induce such a seizure by ProHance® (gadoteridol injection solution) is unknown.

The possibility of a reaction, including serious, life threatening, or fatal, anaphylactic or cardiovascular reactions, or other idiosyncratic reactions (see ADVERSE REACTIONS), should always be considered, especially in those patients with a history of a known clinical hypersensitivity or a history of asthma or other allergic respiratory disorders.

Diagnostic procedures that involve the use of contrast agents should be carried out under direction of a physician with the prerequisite training and a thorough knowledge of the procedure to be performed. When ProHance (Gadoteridol) Injection is to be injected using nondisposable equipment, scrupulous care should be taken to prevent residual contamination with traces of cleansing agents. After ProHance (gadoteridol injection solution) is drawn into a syringe, the solution should be used immediately.

Repeat Procedures: Repeated procedures have not been studied. Sequential use during the same diagnostic session has only been studied in central nervous system use. (See Pharmacokinetics under CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY and Central Nervous System under DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, And Impairment Of Fertility

No animal studies have been performed to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of gadoteridol or potential effects on fertility.

ProHance (gadoteridol injection solution) did not demonstrate genotoxic activity in bacterial reverse mutation assays using Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli, in a mouse lymphoma forward mutation assay, in an in vitro cytogenetic assay measuring chromosomal aberration frequencies in Chinese hamster ovary cells, nor in an in vivo mouse micronucleus assay at intravenous doses up to 5.0 mmol/kg.

Pregnancy Category C

ProHance (gadoteridol injection solution) administered to rats at 10 mmol/kg/day (33 times the maximum recommended human dose of 0.3 mmol/kg or 6 times the human dose based on a mmol/ m² comparison) for 12 days during gestation doubled the incidence of postimplantation loss. When rats were administered 6.0 or 10.0 mmol/ kg/day for 12 days, an increase in spontaneous locomotor activity was observed in the offspring. ProHance (gadoteridol injection solution) increased the incidence of spontaneous abortion and early delivery in rabbits administered 6 mmol/ kg/day (20 times

the maximum recommended human dose or 7 times the human dose based on a mmol/m² comparison) for 13 days during gestation.

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. ProHance (Gadoteridol) Injection should be used during pregnancy only 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, caution should be exercised when ProHance (gadoteridol injection solution) is administered to a nursing woman.

Pediatric Use

Safety and efficacy in children under the age of 2 years have not been established. The safety and efficacy of doses > 0.1 mmol/kg; and sequential and/or repeat procedures has not been studied in children. (See INDICATIONS AND USAGE and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION sections)

Last reviewed on RxList: 2/11/2011
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.