Recombinant urate oxidase (rasburicase) in the prevention and treatment of malignancy-associated hyperuricemia in pediatric and adult patients: results of a compassionate-use trial

To confirm the efficacy of recombinant urate oxidase (rasburicase) and to establish its safety profile, we reviewed the data on 173 children and 72 adults with malignancy who were treated with this new uricolytic agent in a compassionate-use trial. Rasburicase (0.20 mg/kg) was administered intravenously daily for 1 to 7 days and could be given every 12 h for the initial 72 h. Subsequent courses were allowed at a later date. Rasburicase produced a dramatic decrease in uric acid concentrations in all patients whether they received it for prophylaxis (n = 79) or treatment (n = 166) (P < 0.001 in all comparisons between the levels at diagnosis and those after treatment). The median post-treatment levels were 0.5 to 0.7 mg/dl. Repeated administrations were also effective in all 11 evaluable patients. Four children and five adults had mild adverse reactions that were drug related or of unknown etiology. In two of the children, the adverse events occurred during the second course. Rasburicase is highly effective and safe in the prophylaxis or treatment of malignancy- or chemotherapy-associated hyperuricemia in children and adults.