RhoGAM Ultra-Filtered Plus

Adverse events (AE) after administration of RhoGAM and MICRhoGAM are rare.

The most frequently reported AEs are anti-D formation and injection site reactions, such as swelling, induration, redness and mild pain or warmth. Possible systemic reactions are skin rash, body aches or a slight elevation in temperature. Severe systemic allergic reactions are extremely rare. Patients should be observed for at least 20 minutes after administration. There have been no reported fatalities due to anaphylaxis or any other cause related to RhoGAM or MICRhoGAM administration.

As with any Rho(D) Immune Globulin (Human), administration to patients who are Rh-positive or have received Rh-positive red blood cells may result in signs and symptoms of a hemolytic reaction, including fever, back pain, nausea and vomiting, hypo- or hypertension, hemoglobinuria/emia, elevated bilirubin and creatinine and decreased haptoglobin.

RhoGAM and MICRhoGAM contain a small quantity of IgA (less than 15 µg per dose).10 Although high doses of intravenous immune globulin containing IgA at levels of 270- 720 µg/mL have been given without incident during treatment of patients with high-titered antibodies to IgA,11 the attending physician must weigh the benefit against the potential risks of hypersensitivity reactions.

You should not receive this medication if you have ever had an allergic reaction to an immune globulin or if you have immune globulin A (IgA) deficiency with antibody to IgA. You should not receive RHo (D) immune globulin if you have hemolytic anemia (a lack of red blood cells).

Before you receive this medication, tell your doctor if you have heart disease or a history of coronary artery disease, high triglycerides, a bleeding disorder, or immune globulin A (IgA) deficiency.

If you are an Rh-negative woman and you become pregnant, you must tell your doctor if you have ever been exposed to Rh-positive blood in your lifetime. This includes exposure from a mismatched blood transfusion, or exposure during your first pregnancy. Your history of exposure and treatment will be extremely important to each and every one of your pregnancies.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as fever, chills, shaking, back pain, dark colored urine, rapid breathing, feeling short of breath, urinating less than usual, swelling, rapid weight gain, pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating, feeling light-headed.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine for at least 3 months after treatment with RHo (D) immune globulin. The vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), oral polio, rotavirus, smallpox, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), H1N1 influenza, and nasal flu vaccine.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine for at least 3 months after treatment with RHo (D) immune globulin. The vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), oral polio, rotavirus, smallpox, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), H1N1 influenza, and nasal flu vaccine.

RHo (D) immune globulin is a sterilized solution made from human blood. Rh is a substance that most people have in their blood (Rh positive) but some people don't (Rh negative). A person who is Rh negative can be exposed to Rh positive blood through a mismatched blood transfusion or during pregnancy when the baby has the opposite blood type. When this exposure happens, the Rh negative blood will respond by making antibodies that will try to destroy the Rh positive blood cells. This can cause medical problems such as anemia (low red blood cells), kidney failure, or shock.

RHo (D) immune globulin is used to prevent an immune response to Rh positive blood in people with an Rh negative blood type. RHo (D) immune globulin may also be used in the treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

RHo (D) immune globulin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Rho(D) immune globulin is used to treat immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in patients with Rh-positive blood. ITP is a type of blood disorder where the person has a very low number of platelets. Platelets help to clot the blood. Rho(D) immune globulin is also used to prevent antibodies from forming after a person with Rh-negative blood receives a transfusion with Rh-positive blood, or during pregnancy when a mother has Rh-negative blood and the baby is Rh-positive. It belongs to a group of medicines called immunizing agents. Rho(D) immune globulin works to boost the immune system and prevent excessive bleeding.

The Rh factor is one part of the red blood cell. A person has either Rh-positive or Rh-negative blood. If you receive the opposite type of blood, your body will create antibodies that can destroy the red blood cells. When a pregnant woman is Rh-negative and her baby is Rh-positive, the baby's blood can get into her system and cause her to make antibodies. When the same woman has a second baby with Rh-positive blood, the antibodies will destroy the red blood cells in the baby. Rho(D) immune globulin is given to these women during pregnancy or after delivery to prevent them from making antibodies.

This medicine is to be administered only by or under the supervision of your doctor.

It is very important that your doctor check the progress of you or your child at regular visits for any problems or unwanted effects that may be caused by this medicine. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have back pain; shaking chills; a fever; dark urine; a decreased amount of urine; a sudden weight gain; swelling of the hands or feet; or shortness of breath after receiving this medicine. These may be symptoms of a serious blood problem called intravascular hemolysis (IVH).

This medicine is made from donated human blood. Some human blood products have transmitted certain viruses to people who have received them. The risk of getting a virus from medicines made from human blood has been greatly reduced in recent years. This is the result of required testing of human donors for certain viruses, and testing during the making of these medicines. Although the risk is low, talk with your doctor if you have concerns.

This medicine may cause serious types of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you or your child have itching, a rash, hives, chest pain, dizziness or lightheadedness, trouble breathing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after you receive this medicine.

This medicine may cause blood clots, especially in patients with a history of blood clotting problems, heart disease, and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) or circulation problems. Patients who stay in bed for a long time because of surgery or illness may also have blood clots. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child suddenly have chest pain, shortness of breath, a severe headache, leg pain, or problems with vision, speech, or walking.

This medicine may cause a rare and serious lung problem a few hours after it is given. Tell your doctor right away if you or your child have any breathing problems with or without a fever after you receive the medicine.

While you are being treated with Rho(D) immune globulin, do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor's approval. Live virus vaccines should not be given for 3 months after receiving Rho(D) immune globulin.

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take this medicine (RhoGAM Ultra-Filtered Plus). This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.
• To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down. Be careful going up and down stairs.
• Have your blood work checked. Talk with your doctor.
• This medicine may affect certain lab tests. Tell all of your health care providers and lab workers that you take this medicine (RhoGAM Ultra-Filtered Plus).
• If you have high blood sugar (diabetes), talk with your doctor about which glucose tests are best to use.
• This medicine is made from human plasma (part of the blood) and may have viruses that may cause disease. This medicine is screened, tested, and treated to lower the chance that it carries an infection. Talk with the doctor.
• Do not get any vaccines for 3 months after getting immune globulin without talking with your doctor.
• If you are 65 or older, use this medicine with care. You could have more side effects.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using this medicine (RhoGAM Ultra-Filtered Plus) while you are pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

For intramuscular use only. Do not inject RhoGAM Ultra-Filtered PLUS (RhoGAM) or MICRhoGAM Ultra-Filtered PLUS (MICRhoGAM) intravenously. In the case of postpartum use, the product is intended for maternal administration. Do not inject the newborn infant. Inject the entire contents of the syringe(s). For single use only. (See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS)

RhoGAM or MICRhoGAM should be administered within 72 hours of delivery or known or suspected exposure to Rh-positive red blood cells. There is little information concerning the effectiveness of Rho(D) Immune Globulin (Human) when given beyond this 72 hour period. In one study, Rho(D) Immune Globulin (Human) provided protection against Rh immunization in about 50% of subjects when given 13 days after exposure to Rh-positive red blood cells.1 Administer every 12 weeks starting from first injection to maintain a level of passively acquired anti-D. If delivery occurs within three weeks after the last antepartum dose, the postpartum dose may be withheld, but a test for fetal-maternal hemorrhage should be performed to determine if exposure to > 15 mL of red blood cells has occurred.2

Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter, discoloration and syringe damage prior to administration. Do not use if particulate matter and / or discoloration are observed. The solution should appear clear or slightly opalescent.

Indications and Recommended Dosage

RhoGAM Administration

Each single dose prefilled syringe of RhoGAM contains 300 μg (1500 IU) of Rho(D) Immune Globulin (Human). This is the dose for the indications associated with pregnancy at or beyond 13 weeks unless there is clinical or laboratory evidence of a fetal-maternal hemorrhage (FMH) in excess of 15 mL of Rh-positive red blood cells.

MICRhoGAM Administration

Each single dose prefilled syringe of MICRhoGAM contains 50 μg (250 IU) of Rho(D) Immune Globulin (Human). This dose will suppress the immune response to up to 2.5 mL of Rh-positive red blood cells. MICRhoGAM is indicated within 72 hours after termination of pregnancy up to and including 12 weeks gestation. At or beyond 13 weeks gestation, RhoGAM should be administered instead of MICRhoGAM.

Multiple Dosage

Multiple doses of RhoGAM are required if a FMH exceeds 15 mL, an event that is possible but unlikely prior to the third trimester of pregnancy and is most likely at delivery. Patients known or suspected to be at increased risk of FMH should be tested for FMH by qualitative or quantitative methods.3 In efficacy studies, RhoGAM was shown to suppress Rh immunization in all subjects when given at a dose of ≥ 20 μg per mL of Rh-positive red blood cells.4 Thus, a single dose of RhoGAM will suppress the immune response after exposure to≤ 15 mL of Rh-positive red blood cells. However, in clinical practice, laboratory methods used to determine the amount of exposure (volume of transfusion or FMH) to Rh-positive red blood cells are imprecise.5,6 Therefore, administration of more than 20 μg of RhoGAM per mL of Rh-positive red blood cells should be considered whenever a large FMH or red blood cell exposure is suspected or documented.6 Multiple doses may be administered at the same time or at spaced intervals, as long as the total dose is administered within three days of exposure.7

Dosage Frequency

To maintain an adequate level of anti-D, RhoGAM should be administered every 12 weeks. The exact timing for the injection is based on 12 week intervals starting from the administration of the first injection. If delivery of the baby does not occur 12 weeks after the administration of the standard antepartum dose (at 26 to 28 weeks), a second dose is recommended to maximize protection antepartum. If delivery occurs within three weeks after the last antepartum dose, the postpartum dose may be withheld, but a test for FMH should be performed to determine if exposure to > 15 mL of red blood cells has occurred.2

Administration

Immune globulin preparations including Rho(D) Immune Globulin (Human) may impair the efficacy of live vaccines such as measles, mumps and varicella. Administration of live vaccines should generally be delayed until 12 weeks after the final dose of immune globulin. If an immune globulin is administered within 14 days after administration of a live vaccine, the immune response to the vaccination may be inhibited.12

Because of the importance of rubella immunity among women of childbearing age, the postpartum vaccination of rubella-susceptible women with rubella or MMR vaccine should not be delayed because of the receipt of Rho(D) Immune Globulin (Human) during the last trimester of pregnancy or at delivery. Vaccination should occur immediately after delivery and if possible, testing should be performed after 3 or more months to ensure immunity to rubella and if necessary, to measles.12

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category C
Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with RhoGAM or MICRhoGAM. The available evidence suggests that Rho(D) Immune Globulin (Human) does not harm the fetus or affect future pregnancies or the reproduction capacity of the maternal recipient.13,14

Rh Blood Type

RhoGAM or MICRhoGAM Rho(D) Immune Globulin (Human) should only be administered to Rh-negative patients exposed or potentially exposed to Rh-positive red blood cells to prevent Rh immunization.