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 the rates observed in practice.
The safety data were obtained from 316 patients who received Sodium Phenylacetate and Sodium Benzoate Injection as emergency (rescue) or prospective treatment for hyperammonemia as part of an uncontrolled, open-label study. The study population included patients between the ages of 0 to 53 years with a mean (SD) of 6.2 (8.54) years; 51% were male and 49% were female who had the following diagnoses: OTC (46%), ASS (22%), CPS (12%), ASL (2%), ARG (<1%), THN (<1%), and other (18%).
Adverse reactions were reported with similar frequency in patients with OTC, ASS, CPS, and diagnoses categorized as "other." Nervous system disorders were more frequent in patients with OTC and CPS, compared with patients with ASS and patients with "other" diagnoses. Convulsions and mental impairment were reported in patients with OTC and CPS. These observations are consistent with literature reports that patients with enzyme deficiencies occurring earlier in the urea cycle (i.e., OTC and CPS) tend to be more severely affected.
Adverse reactions profiles differed by age group. Patients ≤30 days of age had more blood and lymphatic system disorders and vascular disorders (specifically hypotension), while patients > 30 days of age had more gastrointestinal disorders (specifically nausea, vomiting and diarrhea).
Less common adverse reactions (<3% of patients) that are characterized as severe are listed below by body system.
BLOOD AND LYMPHATIC SYSTEM DISORDERS: coagulopathy, pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia.
CARDIAC DISORDERS: atrial rupture, bradycardia, cardiac or cardiopulmonary arrest/failure, cardiogenic shock, cardiomyopathy, pericardial effusion.
EYE DISORDERS: blindness.
GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS: abdominal distension, gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
GENERAL DISORDERS AND ADMINISTRATION-SITE CONDITIONS: asthenia, brain death, chest pain, multiorgan failure, edema.
HEPATOBILIARY DISORDERS: cholestasis, hepatic artery stenosis, hepatic failure/hepatotoxicity, jaundice.
INFECTIONS AND INFESTATIONS: sepsis/septic shock.
INJURY, POISONING AND PROCEDURAL COMPLICATIONS: brain herniation, subdural hematoma, overdose.
INVESTIGATIONS: blood carbon dioxide changes, blood glucose changes, blood pH increased, cardiac output decreased, pCO2 changes, respiratory rate increased.
METABOLISM AND NUTRITION DISORDERS: alkalosis, dehydration, fluid overload/retention, hypoglycemia, hyperkalemia, hypernatremia, alkalosis, tetany.
NEOPLASMS BENIGN, MALIGNANT AND UNSPECIFIED: hemangioma acquired.
NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS: areflexia, ataxia, brain infarction, brain hemorrhage, cerebral atrophy, clonus, depressed level of consciousness, encephalopathy, nerve paralysis, intracranial pressure increased, subdural hematoma, tremor.
PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS: acute psychosis, aggression, confusional state, hallucinations.
RENAL AND URINARY DISORDERS: anuria, renal failure, urinary retention.
RESPIRATORY, THORACIC AND MEDIASTINAL DISORDERS: acute respiratory distress syndrome, dyspnea, hypercapnia, hyperventilation, Kussmaul respiration, pneumonia aspiration, pneumothorax, pulmonary hemorrhage, pulmonary edema, respiratory acidosis or alkalosis, respiratory arrest/failure.
SKIN AND SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE DISORDERS: alopecia, blister, pruritus generalized, rash, urticarial.
VASCULAR DISORDERS: flushing, hemorrhage, hypertension, phlebothrombosis/thrombosis.
Table 2 : Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥3% of Patients Treated with Sodium Phenylacetate and Sodium Benzoate Injection | Patients N=316
|
Number of patients with any adverse event
| 163 (52%)
|
Blood and lymphatic system disorders
| 35 (11%)
|
Anemia
| 12 (4%)
|
Disseminated intravascular coagulation
| 11 (3%)
|
Cardiac disorders
| 28 (9%)
|
Gastrointestinal disorders
| 42 (13%)
|
Diarrhea
| 10 (3%)
|
Nausea
| 9 (3%)
|
Vomiting
| 29 (9%)
|
General disorders and administration-site conditions
| 45 (14%)
|
Injection-site reaction
| 11 (3%)
|
Pyrexia
| 17 (5%)
|
Infections
| 39 (12%)
|
Urinary tract infection
| 9 (3%)
|
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
| 12 (4%)
|
Investigations
| 32 (10%)
|
Metabolism and nutrition disorders
| 67 (21%)
|
Acidosis
| 8 (3%)
|
Hyperammonemia
| 17 (5%)
|
Hyperglycemia
| 22 (7%)
|
Hypocalcemia
| 8 (3%)
|
Hypokalemia
| 23 (7%)
|
Metabolic acidosis
| 13 (4%)
|
Nervous system disorders
| 71 (22%)
|
Brain edema
| 17 (5%)
|
Coma
| 10 (3%)
|
Convulsions
| 19 (6%)
|
Mental impairment
| 18 (6%)
|
Psychiatric disorders
| 16 (5%)
|
Agitation
| 8 (3%)
|
Renal and urinary disorders
| 14 (4%)
|
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
| 47 (15%)
|
Respiratory distress
| 9 (3%)
|
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
| 19 (6%)
|
Vascular disorders
| 19 (6%)
|
Hypotension
| 14 (4%)
|