Protein C Concentrate

Brand names: Ceprotin
Drug class: Antineoplastic Agents , Antineoplastic Agents

Usage of Protein C Concentrate

Congenital Protein C Deficiency

Replacement therapy in patients with severe congenital protein C deficiency for prevention and treatment of venous thrombosis and purpura fulminans (designated an orphan drug by FDA for this use).

Relate drugs

How to use Protein C Concentrate

General

  • Dosage and duration of therapy is dependent on the severity of protein C deficiency, the plasma protein C concentration, and the patient’s age and clinical condition.
  • Individualize dosage based on measured protein C activity, expressed as a percentage of normal plasma protein C concentrations, and adjust according to the pharmacokinetic profile for each individual patient.
  • Determine plasma protein C concentrations before and during therapy using a chromogenic assay to measure protein C activity.
  • During acute thrombotic episodes, measure protein C activity immediately before administration until the patient is stabilized and continue monitoring afterward. The magnitude of increase in plasma protein C activity may be substantially reduced during acute episodes.
  • Monitor coagulation parameters; however, correlation between levels of protein C activity and coagulation parameters not yet established.

    • Administration

    IV Administration

    Administer by IV injection.

    Initiate therapy under supervision of a clinician experienced in replacement therapy with coagulation factors/inhibitors and where monitoring of protein C activity is feasible.

    Protein C (human) may be self-administered if clinician determines that the patient and/or caregiver is competent to safely administer the drug after appropriate training.

    Reconstitution

    Prior to reconstitution, allow lyophilized powder and manufacturer-supplied diluent to warm to room temperature.

    Reconstitute lyophilized powder with diluent provided by manufacturer. Use strict aseptic technique since drug contains no preservative.

    Reconstitute appropriate number of vials based on the indicated dosage. Vials contain approximately 500 or 1000 IU protein C (human); actual potency is labeled on each vial.

    Reconstitute single-use vials of lyophilized powder by adding 5 or 10 mL of sterile water for injection to vial containing approximately 500 or 1000 units of protein C (human), respectively, using transfer needle provided by manufacturer; resulting solution contains approximately 100 units of protein C (human) per mL. Swirl vial gently until powder is completely dissolved.

    Withdraw reconstituted solution from vial(s) using filter needle provided by manufacturer. Before administration, replace filter needle with a suitable needle or infusion set with winged adapter. Filter needle provided by manufacturer is intended to filter contents of a single vial.

    Administer at room temperature within 3 hours of reconstitution.

    Rate of Administration

    Patients weighing <10 kg: Inject at a maximum rate of 0.2 mL/kg per minute.

    Patients weighing ≥10 kg: Inject at a maximum rate of 2 mL/minute.

    Dosage

    Potency of protein C (human) is determined by chromogenic assay and is expressed in international units (IU, units) as tested against the activity of the WHO reference standard.

    One unit is approximately equivalent to the protein C activity (as measured by an amidolytic assay) present in 1 mL of plasma. The number of units of protein C is indicated on the label of each vial.

    Pediatric Patients

    Congenital Protein C Deficiency Treatment of Acute Episodes of Venous Thrombosis and Purpura Fulminans IV

    Initially, 100–120 units/kg, followed by 60–80 units/kg every 6 hours for 3 doses and a subsequent maintenance dosage of 45–60 units/kg every 6 or 12 hours.

    Adjust dosage according to measured plasma protein C activity; initially maintain peak plasma protein C activity at 100% of normal. Following resolution of the acute event, maintain trough plasma protein C activity at a level above 25% of normal for the duration of treatment.

    In patients initiating oral anticoagulant therapy, continue protein C replacement therapy until adequate anticoagulation is achieved. (See Specific Drugs under Interactions.)

    Prophylaxis of Thrombotic Events IV

    Short-term prophylaxis: Initially, 100–120 units/kg, followed by 60–80 units/kg every 6 hours for 3 doses and a subsequent maintenance dosage of 45–60 units/kg every 6 or 12 hours.

    Long-term prophylaxis (maintenance dosage): 45–60 units/kg every 12 hours; adjust dosage to maintain trough plasma protein C activity above 25% of normal. An increase in peak plasma protein C activity may be appropriate during periods of increased thrombotic risk (e.g., infection, trauma, surgery).

    Adjust dosage according to measured plasma protein C activity; initially maintain peak plasma protein C activity at 100% of normal. Following resolution of the acute event, maintain trough plasma protein C activity at a level above 25% of normal for the duration of treatment.

    In patients initiating oral anticoagulant therapy, continue protein C replacement therapy until adequate anticoagulation is achieved. (See Specific Drugs under Interactions.)

    Adults

    Congenital Protein C Deficiency Treatment of Acute Episodes of Venous Thrombosis and Purpura Fulminans IV

    Initially, 100–120 units/kg, followed by 60–80 units/kg every 6 hours for 3 doses and a subsequent maintenance dosage of 45–60 units/kg every 6 or 12 hours.

    Adjust dosage according to measured plasma protein C activity; initially maintain peak plasma protein C activity at 100% of normal. Following resolution of the acute event, maintain trough plasma protein C activity at a level above 25% of normal for the duration of treatment.

    In patients initiating oral anticoagulant therapy, continue protein C replacement therapy until adequate anticoagulation is achieved. (See Specific Drugs under Interactions.)

    Prophylaxis of Thrombotic Events IV

    Short-term prophylaxis: Initially, 100–120 units/kg, followed by 60–80 units/kg every 6 hours for 3 doses and a subsequent maintenance dosage of 45–60 units/kg every 6 or 12 hours.

    Long-term prophylaxis (maintenance dosage): 45–60 units/kg every 12 hours; adjust dosage to maintain trough plasma protein C activity above 25% of normal. An increase in peak plasma protein C activity may be appropriate during periods of increased thrombotic risk (e.g., infection, trauma, surgery).

    Adjust dosage according to measured plasma protein C activity; initially maintain peak plasma protein C activity at 100% of normal. Following resolution of the acute event, maintain trough plasma protein C activity at a level above 25% of normal for the duration of treatment.

    In patients initiating oral anticoagulant therapy, continue protein C replacement therapy until adequate anticoagulation is achieved. (See Specific Drugs under Interactions.)

    Prescribing Limits

    Pediatric Patients

    Congenital Protein C Deficiency IV

    Patients weighing <10 kg: Inject at a maximum rate of 0.2 mL/kg per minute.

    Patients weighing ≥10 kg: Inject at a maximum rate of 2 mL/minute.

    Adults

    Congenital Protein C Deficiency IV

    Inject at a maximum rate of 2 mL/minute.

    Special Populations

    No special population dosage recommendations at this time.

    Warnings

    Contraindications

  • No known contraindications.

    • Warnings/Precautions

    Sensitivity Reactions

    Hypersensitivity Reaction

    Possible hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis. If hypersensitivity reaction occurs, discontinue immediately and institute appropriate therapy as indicated.

    Possible allergic reactions to trace amounts of murine (mouse) protein and/or heparin.

    Antibody Formation

    Inhibiting antibodies to protein C (human) not observed in clinical studies; however, the potential for developing antibodies cannot be ruled out.

    Risk of Transmissible Agents in Plasma-derived Preparations

    Potential vehicle for transmission of human viruses (i.e., HIV, hepatitis A [HAV], hepatitis B [HBV], hepatitis C [HCV], parvovirus B19) and other infectious agents.

    Improved donor screening, viral-inactivating procedures (e.g., solvent/detergent, heat treatment), and/or immunoaffinity chromatography procedures have reduced but not completely eliminated risk of pathogen transmission with plasma-derived protein C (human) preparations. Some viruses (e.g., human parvovirus B19, HAV) are difficult to remove or inactivate.

    Human parvovirus B19 infection is most serious in pregnant women (fetal infection) or immunocompromised patients.

    Consider vaccination (against HAV and HBV infection) for patients who routinely or repeatedly receive protein C (human).

    Theoretical possibility of transmitting causative agent of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).

    Report suspected infections to the manufacturer at 866-888-2472.

    Bleeding

    Severe bleeding reported; may be associated with concomitant use of anticoagulants. (See Specific Drugs under Interactions.)

    Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia

    Possible heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) due to trace amounts of heparin contained in protein C (human) preparations.

    If HIT occurs, immediately determine platelet count and consider discontinuance of protein C (human).

    Sodium Content

    The quantity of sodium in the maximum daily dosage of protein C (human) exceeds 200 mg.

    Specific Populations

    Pregnancy

    Category C.

    Lactation

    Not known whether protein C (human) is distributed into milk in humans.

    Pediatric Use

    Safety and efficacy established in children ≥2 days of age.

    Pharmacokinetics not established in pediatric patients. However, systemic exposure may be reduced in very young children compared with older individuals; consider this fact when selecting a dosage regimen for children. (See Pediatric Patients under Dosage and Administration and see Special Populations under Pharmacokinetics.)

    Geriatric Use

    Experience in patients ≥65 years of age is insufficient to determine whether they respond differently than younger adults.

    Hepatic Impairment

    Safety and efficacy not established in patients with hepatic impairment.

    Renal Impairment

    Safety and efficacy not established in patients with renal impairment.

    Monitor closely for sodium overload. (See Sodium Content under Cautions.)

    Common Adverse Effects

    Hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., itching, rash), lightheadedness.

    What other drugs will affect Protein C Concentrate

    No formal drug interaction studies performed to date.

    Specific Drugs

    Drug

    Interaction

    Comments

    Anticoagulants, oral

    Risk of transient hypercoagulable state (before desired anticoagulant effect is achieved) with initiation of concomitant therapy because protein C (human) has a shorter half-life than most vitamin K-dependent proteins (i.e., factors II, IX, and X), which leads to more rapid suppression of activity of protein C (human) than that of the procoagulant factors

    Increased risk of warfarin-induced skin necrosis in patients with severe congenital protein C deficiency

    Possible increased risk of bleeding

    When switching to oral anticoagulation, continue protein C (human) replacement therapy until adequate anticoagulation is achieved

    Initiate oral anticoagulant at a low dosage, followed by incremental dosage adjustments; standard anticoagulant loading dose not recommended

    Thrombolytics (e.g., alteplase, reteplase, tenecteplase)

    Increased risk of bleeding

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

    Popular Keywords