WARNINGS
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
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 6089 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 EOVIST administration to
Bayer Healthcare (1-888-842-2937) or FDA at 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 (for example, 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 degree of renal
impairment at the time of exposure. Record the specific GBCA and the dose
administrated to a patient. For patients at highest risk for NSF, do not exceed
the recommended EOVIST dose and allow a sufficient period of time for
elimination of the drug prior to any 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].
Hypersensitivity Reactions
Anaphylactoid and anaphylactic reactions with
cardiovascular, respiratory and cutaneous manifestations, ranging from mild to
severe reactions, including shock have uncommonly occurred following EOVIST
administration [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
- Before EOVIST administration, assess all patients for any
history of a reaction to contrast media, a history of bronchial asthma and/or a
history of allergic disorders. These patients may have an increased risk for a
hypersensitivity reaction to EOVIST; weigh the benefits of EOVIST MRI carefully
against the risks in these clinical settings.
- Administer EOVIST only in situations where trained
personnel and therapies are promptly available for the treatment of
hypersensitivity reactions, including personnel trained in resuscitation.
Most hypersensitivity reactions to EOVIST have occurred
within half an hour after administration. Delayed reactions (hours up to
several days) may occur. Observe patients for signs and symptoms of
hypersensitivity reactions during and following EOVIST administration. Treat
these reactions with standard medications for hypersensitivity reactions.
Acute Kidney Injury
In patients with chronic renal impairment, acute kidney
injury sometimes requiring dialysis has been observed with the use of some GBCAs.
The risk of acute kidney injury might be lower with EOVIST due to its dual
excretory pathways. Do not exceed the recommended dose.
Extravasation And Injection Site Reactions
Ensure catheter and venous patency before the injection
of EOVIST. Extravasation into tissues during EOVIST administration may result
in local tissue reactions. Strictly avoid intramuscular administration of
EOVIST because it may cause myocyte necrosis and inflammation [see
Nonclinical Toxicology].
Interference With Laboratory Tests
Serum iron determination using complexometric methods
(for example, Ferrocine complexation method) may result in falsely high or low
values for up to 24 hours after EOVIST administration [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Interference With Visualization Of Liver Lesions
Severe renal or hepatic failure may impair EOVIST imaging
performance. In patients with end-stage renal failure, hepatic contrast was
markedly reduced and was attributed to elevated serum ferritin levels. In
patients with abnormally high ( > 3 mg/dL) serum bilirubin, reduced hepatic
contrast was observed. If EOVIST is used in these patients, complete MR imaging
no later than 60 minutes after EOVIST administration and use a paired
non-contrast and contrast MRI image set for diagnosis.
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
No carcinogenicity studies of EOVIST have been conducted.
Gadoxetate disodium was not mutagenic in in vitro reverse
mutation tests in bacteria, or in chromosome aberration tests in human
peripheral blood lymphocytes, and was negative in an in vivo micronucleus test
in mice after intravenous injection of doses up to 4 mmol/kg.
Gadoxetate disodium had no effect on fertility and general
reproductive performance of male and female rats when given in doses 6.5 times
the human dose (based on body surface area).
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category C. There are no adequate and
well-controlled studies of EOVIST in pregnant women. While it is unknown if EOVIST
crosses the human placenta, other gadolinium products do cross the placenta in
humans and results in fetal exposure. Limited published human data on exposure
to other gadolinium products during pregnancy did not show adverse effects in
exposed neonates. Embryotoxicity occurred in pregnant rabbits that received
daily gadoxetate disodium at 26 times the recommended human dose (mmol/m² basis),
and maternal toxicity occurred in pregnant rats at doses 32 times the human
dose (mmol/m² basis). EOVIST should be used during pregnancy only if the
potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Animal reproductive and developmental toxicity studies
were done in rats and rabbits. Gadoxetate disodium was not teratogenic when
given intravenously during organogenesis to pregnant rats at doses up to 32
times the recommended single human dose (mmol/m² basis).
However, an increase in preimplantation loss was noted at
3.2 times the human dose (mmol/m² basis). Compared to untreated controls, rates
of postimplantation loss and absorption increased and litter size decreased
when pregnant rabbits received gadoxetate disodium at doses 26 times the
recommended human single dose (mmol/m² basis). This occurred without evidence
of maternal toxicity. Because pregnant animals received repeated daily doses of
EOVIST, their overall exposure was significantly higher than that achieved with
the standard single dose administered to humans.
Nursing Mothers
It is not known whether EOVIST is excreted in human milk.
Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when
EOVIST is administered to a nursing woman. Based on pharmacokinetics of EOVIST,
women with normal renal function may resume nursing with milk produced 10 hours
or more following EOVIST administration with minimal risk for the presence of
EOVIST within the milk.
In lactating rats given 0.1 mmol/kg [153Gd] gadoxetate
disodium, less than 0.5% of the total administered radioactivity was transferred
to the neonates via maternal milk, mostly within 2 hours.
Pediatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of EOVIST have not been
established in pediatric patients.
Geriatric Use
In clinical studies of EOVIST, 37% of the patients were
65 years of age and over, while 7% were 75 years of age and over. No overall
differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these subjects and
younger subjects, and other reported clinical experience has not identified
differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general,
use of EOVIST in 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.
In a clinical pharmacology study, slight to moderate
differences in pharmacokinetic parameters of gadoxetate disodium (increased AUC
and terminal half-life, decreased total clearance) were found in a group of geriatric
volunteers in comparison to non-geriatric volunteers. No clinically relevant
differences in liver contrast enhancement were found [see CLINICAL
PHARMACOLOGY].
Hepatic Impairment
In a clinical pharmacology study in groups of patients
with mild or moderate hepatic impairment, a slight to moderate increase in
plasma AUC, half-life and urinary excretion, as well as decrease in
hepatobiliary excretion was observed in comparison to healthy subjects with
normal liver function. Hepatic contrast signal did not differ among the groups.
Severe hepatic impairment may impair EOVIST imaging
performance [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
In patients with severe hepatic impairment, especially in patients with abnormally
high ( > 3 mg/dL) serum bilirubin levels, the AUC was increased up to 60% and
the elimination half-life was increased up to 49%. The hepatobiliary excretion
substantially decreased to about 5% of the administered dose and reduced
hepatic contrast signal was observed.
A dose adjustment is not necessary for patients with
hepatic impairment.
In clinical studies, 489 patients had a diagnosis of
liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh category A, n=270; category B, n=98; category C,
n=24; unknown category, n=97). No difference in diagnostic performance and
safety was observed among these patients.
Renal Impairment
In a clinical pharmacology study in a group of patients
with moderate renal impairment, a moderate increase in AUC and terminal
half-life was observed in comparison to healthy volunteers with normal renal
function. Hepatic contrast did not differ among the groups.
End-stage renal failure may impair EOVIST imaging
performance [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
In a study of patients with end-stage renal failure, the terminal half-life was
prolonged about 12-fold and the AUC was increased about 6fold. Hepatic contrast
was markedly reduced in these patients, which was attributed to significantly
elevated serum ferritin levels [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and CLINICAL
PHARMACOLOGY]. Approximately 30% of the injected dose was removed by
dialysis in a single 3-hour dialysis session, which started one hour after an
EOVIST dose. EOVIST was almost completely eliminated via dialysis and biliary
excretion within the observation period of 6 days, predominantly within the
first 3 days.