Ultravist Injection

Ultravist Injection® Injection is an iodinated contrast agent indicated for:

Intra-Arterial Procedures*

• 150 mg I/mL for intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (IA-DSA)
• 300 mg I/mL for cerebral arteriography and peripheral arteriography
• 370 mg I/mL for coronary arteriography and left ventriculography, visceral angiography, and aortography

Intravenous Procedures*

• 240 mg I/mL for peripheral venography
• 300 mg I/mL for excretory urography
• 300 mg I/mL and 370 mg I/mL for contrast Computed Tomography (CT) of the head and body (intrathoracic, intraabdominal and retroperitoneal regions) for the evaluation of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions. The usefulness of contrast enhancement for the investigation of the retrobulbar space and of low grade or infiltrative glioma has not been demonstrated.

*For information on the concentrations and doses for the Pediatric Population.

• Visually inspect Ultravist Injection for particulate matter and/or discoloration, whenever solution and container permit. Do not administer Ultravist Injection if particulate matter and/or discoloration is observed.
• Determine the volume and concentration of Ultravist Injection Injection to be used taking into account factors such as age, body weight, size of the vessel and the rate of blood flow within the vessel; consider also extent of opacification required, structure(s) or area to be examined, disease processes affecting the patient, and equipment and technique to be employed. Specific dose adjustments for age, gender, weight and renal function have not been studied for Ultravist Injection Injection. As with all iodinated contrast agents, lower doses may have less risk. The efficacy of Ultravist Injection Injection below doses recommended has not been established.
• The maximum recommended total dose of iodine in adults is 86 grams; a maximum recommended total dose of iodine has not been established for pediatric patients.
• Hydrate patients adequately prior to and following the administration of Ultravist Injection.
• Warming Ultravist Injection to body temperature shortly before administration may help improve tolerability and ease of injection.

Intra-Arterial Procedures

The volume and rate of injection of the contrast agent will vary depending on the injection site and the area being examined. Inject contrast at rates approximately equal to the flow rate in the vessel being injected.

• Cerebral Arteriography (300 mg I/mL), Coronary Arteriography and Left Ventriculography (370 mg I/mL), Peripheral Arteriography (300 mg I/mL), Intra-arterial Digital Subtraction Angiography (IA-DSA) (150 mg I/mL): see Table 1.
• Aortography and Visceral Angiography (370 mg I/mL):

Use a volume and rate of contrast injection proportional to the blood flow and related to the vascular and pathological characteristics of the specific vessels being studied. Do not exceed 225 mL as total dose for the procedure.

Table 1: Suggested Single Injection Doses for Adult Intra-Arterial Procedures

Intravenous Procedures

• Peripheral Venography (240 mg I/mL):
  Inject the minimum volume necessary to visualize satisfactorily the structures under examination. Do not exceed 250 mL as total dose for the procedure.

• Contrast Computed Tomography (CT) (300 mg I/mL and 370 mg I/mL) and Excretory Urography (300 mg I/mL): see Table 2.

Table 2: Suggested Ultravist Injection Injection Dosing for Adult Intravenous Contrast Administration

Pediatric Dosing

The recommended dose in children over 2 years of age for the following evaluations is:

• Intra-arterial:

Cardiac chambers and related arteries (370 mg I/mL)

Inject 1 to 2 milliliters per kilogram (mL/kg). Do not exceed 4 mL/kg as total dose.

• Intravenous:

Contrast Computerized Tomography or Excretory Urography (300 mg I/mL)

Inject 1 to 2 mL/kg. Do not exceed 3 mL/kg as total dose.

The safety and efficacy relationships of other doses, concentrations or procedures have not been established.

• Do not administer Ultravist Injection Injection intrathecally. Inadvertent intrathecal administration may cause death, convulsions, cerebral hemorrhage, coma, paralysis, arachnoiditis, acute renal failure, cardiac arrest, seizures, rhabdomyolysis, hyperthermia, and brain edema.
• Preparatory dehydration (for example, prolonged fasting and the administration of a laxative) before Ultravist Injection Injection is contraindicated in pediatric patients because of risk of acute renal failure.

WARNINGS

Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.

PRECAUTIONS

Anaphylactoid Reactions

Life-threatening or fatal, anaphylactoid reactions, may occur during or after Ultravist Injection administration. Manifestations include respiratory arrest, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, angioedema, and shock. Increased risk is associated with a history of previous reaction to a contrast agent (3-fold), a known sensitivity to iodine and known allergic disorders (that is, bronchial asthma, hay fever and food allergies) or other hypersensitivities (2-fold). Exercise extreme caution when considering the use of iodinated contrast agents in patients with these histories or disorders.

Emergency facilities and personnel trained in the treatment of anaphylactoid reactions should be available for at least 30 to 60 minutes after Ultravist Injection administration.

Contrast Induced Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury, including renal failure,may occur after intravascular administration of Ultravist Injection. Risk factors include: pre-existing renal insufficiency, dehydration, diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, advanced vascular disease, elderly age, concomitant use of nephrotoxic or diuretic medications, multiple myeloma / paraproteinemia, repetitive and/or large doses of Ultravist Injection.

Use the lowest necessary dose of Ultravist Injection in patients with renal impairment. Adequately hydrate patients prior to and following Ultravist Injection administration.

Cardiovascular Reactions

Ultravist Injection increases the circulatory osmotic load and may induce acute or delayed hemodynamic disturbances in patients with congestive heart failure, severely impaired renal function, combined renal and hepatic disease, combined renal and cardiac disease, particularly when repetitive and/or large doses are administered.

Among patients who have had cardiovascular reactions, most deaths occurred from the start of injection to 10 minutes later; the main feature was cardiac arrest with cardiovascular disease as the main underlying factor. Isolated reports of hypotensive collapse and shock have been published.

The administration of Ultravist Injection may cause pulmonary edema in patients with heart failure. Based upon published reports, deaths from the administration of iodinated contrast agents range from 6.6 per 1 million (0.00066 percent) to 1 in 10,000 patients (0.01 percent). Observe patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease for several hours following Ultravist Injection administration.

Thromboembolic Complications

• Angiography may be associated with local and distal organ damage, ischemia, thromboembolism and organ failure including stroke, brachial plexus palsy, chest pain, myocardial infarction, sinus arrest, hepato-renal function abnormalities. For these reasons, meticulous angiographic techniques are recommended, including close attention to guide wire and catheter manipulation, use of manifold systems and/or three-way stopcocks, frequent catheter flushing with heparinized saline solutions and minimizing the length of the procedure. In angiographic procedures, consider the possibility of dislodging plaques or damaging or perforating the vessel wall with resultant pseudoaneurysms, hemorrhage at puncture site, dissection of coronary artery during catheter manipulations and contrast agent injection. The physicochemical properties of the contrast agent, the dose and the speed of injection can influence the reactions. Test injections to ensure proper catheter placement are suggested. Increased thrombosis and activation of the complement system has also occurred. Specialized personnel, and adequate equipment and facilities for immediate resuscitation and cardioversion are necessary. Monitor electrocardiograms and vital signs throughout the procedure.
• Exercise care when performing venography in patients with suspected thrombosis, phlebitis, severe ischemic disease, local infection, venous thrombosis or a totally obstructed venous system.
• Clotting may occur when blood remains in contact with syringes containing iodinated contrast agents.
• Avoid angiography whenever possible in patients with homocystinuria because of the risk of inducing thrombosis and embolism.

Reactions in Patients with Hyperthyroidism, Pheochromocytoma, or Sickle Cell Disease

Thyroid storm in patients with hyperthyroidism

Thyroid storm has occurred after the intravascular use of iodinated contrast agents in patients with hyperthyroidism, or with an autonomously functioning thyroid nodule. Evaluate the risk in such patients before use of any iodinated contrast agent.

Hypertensive crises in patients with pheochromocytoma

Administer iodinated contrast agents with extreme caution in patients with known or suspected pheochromocytoma. Inject the minimum amount of contrast necessary. Assess the blood pressure throughout the procedure, and have measures for treatment of a hypertensive crisis readily available.

Sickle cell disease

Contrast agents may promote sickling in individuals who are homozygous for sickle cell disease when administered intravascularly.

Extravasation

Extravasation of Ultravist Injection Injection may cause tissue necrosis and/or compartment syndrome, particularly in patients with severe arterial or venous disease.

Increased Radiation Exposure

The decision to use contrast enhancement is associated with risk and increased radiation exposure. Use contrast after a careful evaluation of clinical, other radiologic data, and the results of non-contrast CT findings, taking into account the increased radiation dose and other risks.

Interference with Image Interpretation

As with other iodinated contrast agents, the use of Ultravist Injection Injection may obscure some lesions which were seen on non-contrast CT scans. Calcified lesions are less likely to enhance. The enhancement of tumors after therapy may decrease. The opacification of the inferior vermis following contrast agent administration has resulted in false-positive diagnosis. Cerebral infarctions of recent onset may be better visualized with contrast enhancement. However, older infarctions may be obscured by the contrast agent.

In patients with normal blood-brain barriers and renal failure, iodinated contrast agents have been associated with bloodbrain barrier disruption and accumulation of contrast in the brain. Accumulation of contrast in the brain also occurs in patients where the blood-brain barrier is known or suspected to be disrupted.

Nonclinical Toxicology

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

Long-term animal studies have not been performed with iopromide to evaluate carcinogenic potential or effects on fertility. Iopromide was not genotoxic in a series of studies including the Ames test, an in vitro human lymphocytes analysis of chromosomal aberrations, an in vivo mouse micro-nucleus assay, and in an in vivo mouse dominant lethal assay.

Use In Specific Populations

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category B

Reproduction studies performed with iopromide in rats and rabbits at doses up to 3.7 g I/kg (2.2 times the maximum recommended dose for a 50 kg human, or approximately 0.7 times the human dose following normalization of the data to body surface area estimates) have revealed no evidence of direct harm to the fetus. Embryolethality was observed in rabbits that received 3.7 g I/kg, but this was considered to have been secondary to maternal toxicity. Adequate and wellcontrolled studies in pregnant women have not been conducted. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Nursing Mothers

It is not known whether Ultravist Injection Injection is excreted in human milk. However, many injectable contrast agents are excreted unchanged in human milk. Although it has not been established that serious adverse reactions occur in nursing infants, caution should be exercised when intravascular contrast agents are administered to nursing women because of potential adverse reaction, and consideration should be given to temporarily discontinuing nursing.

Pediatric Use

The safety and efficacy of Ultravist Injection Injection have been established in the pediatric population over 2 years of age. Use of Ultravist Injection Injection in these age groups is supported by evidence from adequate and well controlled studies of Ultravist Injection Injection in adults and additional safety data obtained in literature and other reports in a total of 274 pediatric patients. Of these, there were 131 children (2–12 years), 57 adolescents, and 86 children of unreported or other ages. There were 148 females, 94 males and 32 in whom gender was not reported. The racial distribution was: Caucasian 93 (33.9%), Black 1 (0.4%), Asian 6 (2.2%), and unknown 174 (63.5%). These patients were evaluated in intra-arterial coronary angiographic (n=60), intravenous contrast computerized tomography (CT) (n=87), excretory urography (n=99) and 28 other procedures.

In these pediatric patients, a concentration of 300 mg I/mL was employed for intravenous contrast CT or excretory urography. A concentration of 370 mg I/mL was employed for intra-arterial and intracardiac administration in the radiographic evaluation of the heart cavities and major arteries. Most pediatric patients received initial volumes of 1–2 mL/kg.

Optimal doses of Ultravist Injection Injection have not been established because different injection volumes, concentrations and injection rates were not studied. The relationship of the volume of injection with respect to the size of the target vascular bed has not been established. The potential need for dose adjustment on the basis of immature renal function has not been established. In the pediatric population, the pharmacokinetic parameters have not been established.

Pediatric patients at higher risk of experiencing an adverse reaction during and after administration of any contrast agent include those with asthma, a sensitivity to medication and/or allergens, cyanotic and acyanotic heart disease, congestive heart failure, or a serum creatinine greater than 1.5 mg/dL. The injection rates in small vascular beds, and the relationship of the dose by volume or concentration in small pediatric patients have not been established. Exercise caution in selecting the dose.

Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients below the age of two have not been established.

Geriatric Use

Middle-aged and elderly patients, without significantly impaired renal function, who received Ultravist Injection Injection in doses corresponding to 9–30 g iodine, had mean steady-state volumes of distribution that ranged between 30–40 L. Mean total and renal clearances were between 81–125 mL/min and 70–115 mL/min respectively in these patients, and were similar to the values found in the young volunteers. The distribution phase half-life in this patient population was 0.1 hour, the main elimination phase half-life was 2.3 hours, and the terminal elimination phase half-life was 40 hours. The urinary excretion (97% of the dose) and fecal excretion (2%) was comparable to that observed in young healthy volunteers, suggesting that, compared to the renal route, biliary and/or gastrointestinal excretion is not significant for iopromide.

Renal Impairment

In patients with renal impairment, opacification of the calyces and pelves by iopromide may be delayed due to slower renal excretion of iopromide.

A pharmacokinetic study in patients with mild (n=2), moderate (n=6), and severe (n=3) renal impairment was conducted. The total clearance of iopromide was decreased proportionately to the baseline decrease in creatinine clearance. The plasma AUC increased about 2-fold in patients with moderate renal impairment and 6-fold in patients with severe renal impairment compared to subjects with normal renal function. The terminal half-life increased from 2.2 hrs for subjects with normal renal function to 11.6 hrs in patients with severe renal impairment. The peak plasma concentration of iopromide was not influenced by the extent of renal impairment. Exercise caution and use the lowest necessary dose of Ultravist Injection in patients with renal dysfunction.

The most important adverse drug reactions in patients receiving Ultravist Injection are anaphylactoid shock, contrast induced acute kidney injury, coma, cerebral infarction, stroke, brain edema, convulsion, arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, cardiac failure, bradycardia, cyanosis, hypotension, shock, dyspnea, pulmonary edema, respiratory insufficiency and aspiration.

Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect or predict the rates observed in practice.

The following table of incidence of reactions is based upon controlled clinical trials in which Ultravist Injection Injection was administered to 1142 patients. This listing includes all reported adverse reactions regardless of attribution. Adverse reactions are listed by System Organ Class and in decreasing order of occurrence for rates greater than 1% in the Ultravist Injection group: see Table 3.

Table 3: ADVERSE REACTIONS REPORTED IN > 1% OF PATIENTS WHO RECEIVED Ultravist Injection INJECTION IN CLINICAL TRIALS

One or more adverse reactions were recorded in 273 of 1142 (24%) patients during the clinical trials, coincident with the administration of Ultravist Injection Injection or within the defined duration of the study follow-up period (24–72 hours). Ultravist Injection Injection is often associated with sensations of warmth and/or pain.

Serious, life-threatening and fatal reactions have been associated with the administration of iodine-containing contrast media, including Ultravist Injection Injection. In clinical trials 7/1142 patients given Ultravist Injection Injection died 5 days or later after drug administration. Also, 10/1142 patients given Ultravist Injection Injection had serious adverse events.

The following adverse reactions were observed in ≤ 1% of the subjects receiving Ultravist Injection Injection:

Cardiac disorders: atrioventricular block (complete), bradycardia, ventricular extrasystole;

Gastrointestinal disorders: abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain, abdominal pain upper, constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth, dyspepsia, gastrointestinal disorder, gastrointestinal pain, salivation increased, stomach discomfort, rectal tenesmus;

General disorders and administration site conditions: asthenia, chest discomfort, chills, excessive thirst, extravasation, feeling hot, hyperhidrosis, malaise, edema peripheral, pyrexia;

Immune system disorders: asthma, face edema;

Investigations: blood lactate dehydrogenase increased, blood urea increased, hemoglobin increased, white blood cell count increased;

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: arthralgia, musculoskeletal pain, myasthenia, neck pain, pain in extremity;

Nervous system disorders:agitation, confusion, convulsion, dizziness, hypertonia, hypesthesia, incoordination, neuropathy, somnolence, speech disorder, tremor, paresthesia, visual field defect;

Psychiatric disorders: anxiety;

Renal and urinary disorders: dysuria, renal pain, urinary retention;

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: apnea, cough increased, dyspnea, hypoxia, pharyngeal edema, pharyngitis, pleural effusion, pulmonary hypertension, respiratory disorder, sore throat;

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: erythema, pruritus, rash, urticaria;

Vascular disorders:coronary artery thrombosis, flushing, hypertension, hypotension, peripheral vascular disorder, syncope, vascular anomaly.

Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of Ultravist Injection Injection. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Adverse reactions reported in foreign postmarketing surveillance and other trials with the use of Ultravist Injection Injection include:

Cardiac disorders:cardiac arrest, ventricular fibrillation, atrial fibrillation, tachycardia, palpitations, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris;

Ear and labyrinth disorders: vertigo, tinnitus;

Endocrine disorders: hyperthyroidism, thyrotoxic crisis, hypothyroidism;

Eye disorders: mydriasis, lacrimation disorder;

Gastrointestinal disorders: dysphagia, swelling of salivary glands;

Immune system disorders:anaphylactoid reaction (including fatal cases), respiratory arrest, anaphylactoid shock, angioedema, laryngeal edema, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, hypersensitivity;

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: compartment syndrome in case of extravasation

Nervous system disorders:cerebral ischemia/infarction, paralysis, paresis, transient cortical blindness, aphasia, coma, unconsciousness, amnesia, hypotonia, aggravation of myasthenia gravis symptoms

Renal and urinary disorders:renal failure, hematuria;

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, asthma,

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, skin discoloration;

Vascular disorders:vasospasm.

Pediatrics

The overall character, quality, and severity of adverse reactions in pediatric patients are generally similar to those reported in adult patients. Additional adverse reactions reported in pediatric patients from foreign marketing surveillance or other information are: epistaxis, angioedema, migraine, joint disorder (effusion), muscle cramps, mucous membrane disorder (mucosal swelling), conjunctivitis, hypoxia, fixed eruptions, vertigo, diabetes insipidus, and brain edema.

The adverse effects of overdosage are life-threatening and affect mainly the pulmonary and cardiovascular systems. Treatment of an overdosage is directed toward the support of all vital functions, and prompt institution of symptomatic therapy.

Ultravist Injection Injection binds negligibly to plasma or serum protein and can, therefore, be dialyzed.

Following Ultravist Injection administration, the degree of contrast enhancement is directly related to the iodine content in the administered dose; peak iodine plasma levels occur immediately following rapid intravenous injection. Iodine plasma levels fall rapidly within 5 to 10 minutes. This can be accounted for by the dilution in the vascular and extravascular fluid compartments.

Intravascular Contrast: Contrast enhancement appears to be greatest immediately after bolus injections (15 seconds to 120 seconds). Thus, greatest enhancement may be detected by a series of consecutive two-to-three second scans performed within 30 to 90 seconds after injection (that is, dynamic computed tomographic imaging).

Ultravist Injection Injection may be visualized in the renal parenchyma within 30–60 seconds following rapid intravenous injection. Opacification of the calyces and pelves in patients with normal renal function becomes apparent within 1–3 minutes, with optimum contrast occurring within 5–15 minutes.

In contrast CT, some performance characteristics are different in the brain and body. In contrast CT of the body, iodinated contrast agents diffuse rapidly from the vascular into the extravascular space. Following the administration of iodinated contrast agents, the increase in tissue density to x-rays is related to blood flow, the concentration of the contrast agent, and the extraction of the contrast agent by various interstitial tissues. Contrast enhancement is thus due to any relative differences in extravascular diffusion between adjacent tissues.

In the normal brain with an intact blood-brain barrier, contrast is generally due to the presence of iodinated contrast agent within the intravascular space. The radiographic enhancement of vascular lesions, such as arteriovenous malformations and aneurysms, depends on the iodine content of the circulating blood pool.

In tissues with a break in the blood-brain barrier, contrast agent accumulates within interstitial brain tissue. The time to maximum contrast enhancement can vary from the time that peak blood iodine levels are reached to 1 hour after intravenous bolus administration. This delay suggests that radiographic contrast enhancement is at least in part dependent on the accumulation of iodine containing medium within the lesion and outside the blood pool. The mechanism by which this occurs is not clear.

For information on coagulation parameters, fibrinolysis and complement system.

Distribution

After intravenous administration to healthy young volunteers, plasma iopromide concentration time profile shows an initial distribution phase with a half-life of 0.24 hour; a main elimination phase with a half-life of 2 hours; and a terminal elimination phase with a half-life of 6.2 hours. The total volume of distribution at steady state is about 16 L suggesting distribution in to extracellular space. Plasma protein binding of iopromide is 1%.

Iodinated contrast agents may cross the blood-brain barrier.

Metabolism

Iopromide is not metabolized.

Elimination

The amounts excreted unchanged in urine represent 97% of the dose in young healthy subjects. Only 2% of the dose is recovered in the feces. Similar recoveries in urine and feces are observed in middle-aged and elderly patients. This finding suggests that, compared to the renal route, biliary and/or gastrointestinal excretion is not important for iopromide. During the slower terminal phase only 3% of the dose is eliminated; 97% of the dose is disposed of during the earlier phases, the largest part of which occurs during the main elimination phase. The ratio of the renal clearance of iopromide to the creatinine clearance is 0.82 suggesting that iopromide is mainly excreted by glomerular filtration. Additional tubular reabsorption is possible. Pharmacokinetics of iopromide at intravenous doses up to 80 g iodine, are dose proportionate and first order.

The mean total and renal clearances are 107 mL/min and 104 mL/min, respectively.