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**DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES** Public Health Service

Food and Drug Administration

1401 Rockville Pike

Rockville, MD 20852-1448

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# BLOOD PRODUCTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

83^rd^ Meeting - July 21, 2005

Gaithersburg Holiday Inn, 2 Montgomery Village Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD
20877

> **Topic III: Prophylaxis of Dextran-Induced Anaphylactoid Reactions
> (DIAR) by Dextran 1 Pre-Administration**

**ISSUE:**

The FDA seeks advice from the Committee regarding informing the medical
community of the risk of dextran-induced anaphylactoid reactions (DIAR)
associated with the use of Dextran 40 and Dextran 70 and the benefit of
prophylaxis with Dextran 1.

**BACKGROUND:**

Two intravenous dextran solutions, Dextran 40 and Dextran 70, have been
marketed in the U.S. for more than 40 years. They are approved for
plasma volume expansion in the treatment of hypovolemic shock, as a
component of the pump prime for cardiopulmonary bypass, and for
postoperative thromboembolic prophylaxis. Because they reduce platelet
aggregation and promote blood flow in the microcirculation, dextran
solutions are commonly used by plastic and ENT surgeons for patients
undergoing plastic reconstruction skin flaps and by vascular surgeons
for patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy.

The occurrence of dextran-induced anaphylactoid reactions (DIAR) ranging
in severity from mild erythema (Grade I) to mild hypotension (Grade II),
severe hypotension and bronchospasm (Grade III), cardiorespiratory
arrest (Grade IV), and death (Grade V) have been well recognized since
the 1960s. Grade III-V reactions are initiated by cross-linking of
dextran-specific IgG with dextran molecules; binding of IgG complexes to
receptors located on the membrane surface of mast cells and basophils
triggers them to release potent vasoactive mediators that cause
circulatory collapse and severe bronchoconstriction. The mechanism(s)
underlying Grade I and II reactions is (are) not clear.

In the early 1970s, researchers studying a canine model of DIAR
discovered that administration of hapten, Dextran 1 (molecular weight
1000), immediately before administration of Dextran 40, greatly reduced
the incidence of severe hypotension.^1^ Shortly thereafter, a series of
prospective, very large (N=76,290), multicenter clinical trials were
undertaken in Scandinavia that compared the incidence of severe DIAR in
Dextran 40/Dextran 70 subjects receiving Dextran 1 versus the incidence
of severe DIAR in a pre-Dextran 1 era, historical control cohort;^2-4^
individuals in the control cohort came from the same Swedish, Finnish,
and Norwegian hospitals as in the prospective trials.^5^ These studies
reported that pre-injecting 20 mL Dextran 1 reduced the incidence of
severe DIAR from a control event rate of 25 cases/100,000 units Dextran
40/Dextran 70 to 3/100,000 units. Publication of these findings soon led
to licensure of Dextran 1 in Sweden and other countries, e.g., Dextran 1
was approved in the U.S. in 1984. The labeled indication for Dextran 1
is for prophylaxis of DIAR. According to a postmarketing surveillance
study that compared historical control data with data from dextran
manufacturers and from the World Health Organization database INTDIS for
the period 1983-1992, introduction of Dextran 1 into clinical practice
was associated with a 35-fold reduction in the incidence of severe DIAR
and a 90-fold reduction in the incidence of lethal DIAR.^6^

**DISCUSSION:**

Three manufacturers currently market Dextran 40 and/or Dextran 70 in the
U.S.: Baxter, B. Braun, and Hospira; the only manufacturer of Dextran 1
is Meda AB. FDA review and evaluation of the labeling for the Dextran 40
and 70 products revealed that the recommendation to pre-inject Dextran 1
to reduce the incidence of severe DIAR was present in the labeling of
the first Dextran 40 product marketed in the U.S. (by Pharmacia), but
NOT in the labeling of products marketed subsequently by Baxter, B.
Braun, and Hospira. Our review of the Adverse Events Reporting System
(AERS) database showed that 90 cases of severe DIAR had been reported
for the period 1969-2004. For most of the reported cases, we do not know
whether or not the patients were pretreated with Dextran 1. Since AERS
is a passive reporting system, the actual incidence of severe DIAR is
likely to be higher, especially since Dextran 40 and Dextran 70 have
been approved for decades. Based on our review of the published
literature and on reports received in the AERS safety database, we
believe that steps should be taken to better inform the medical
community regarding the risk of DIAR associated with the use of Dextran
40 and Dextran 70, and the benefit of prophylaxis with Dextran 1.
Towards that end, we have engaged the product manufacturers in a
dialogue to discuss their findings and interpretations regarding this
safety issue and to solicit proposals for dissemination of appropriate
medical information. We will invite the manufacturers to present their
perspectives and proposals at the BPAC meeting, and we will entertain a
discussion on the most appropriate response to this concern.

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**QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMITTEE:**

Please discuss what revisions to the product labeling for Dextran 40 and
Dextran 70 would be most appropriate to address the risk of DIAR and the
relevance of pre-treatment with Dextran 1. In particular, please comment

a.  whether a class labeling change is warranted, and

b.  what other forms of risk communication FDA should consider to alert
    the medical community about the risk of DIAR.

**REFERENCES:**

1.  Richter, W. Built-in hapten inhibition of anaphylaxis by the low
    molecular weight fractions of a B 512 dextran fraction of MW 3400.
    *Int Arch Allergy* 1973;45:930

2.  Ljungstrom K-G, Renck H, Hedin H, et al. Prevention of
    dextran-induced anaphylactic reactions by hapten inhibition. I. A
    Scandinavian multicenter study on the effects of 10 mL Dextran 1,
    15%, administered before Dextran 70 or Dextran 40. *Acta Chir Scand*
    1983;149:341-348

3.  Renck H, Ljungstrom K-G, Rosberg B, et al. Prevention of
    dextran-induced anaphylactic reactions by hapten inhibition. II. A
    comparison of 20 mL Dextran 1, 15%, administered either admixed to
    or before Dextran 70 or Dextran 40. *Acta Chir Scand*
    1983;149:349-353

4.  Renck, H, Ljungstrom K-G, Hedin H, et al. Prevention of
    dextran-induced anaphylactic reactions by hapten inhibition. III. A
    Scandinavian multicenter study on the effects of 20 mL Dextran 1,
    15%, administered before Dextran 70 or Dextran 40. *Acta Chir Scand*
    1983;149:355-360

5.  Ljungstrom K-G, Renck H, Strandberg K, et al. Adverse reactions to
    dextran in Sweden 1970-1979. *Acta Chir Scand* 1983;149:253-262

6.  Hedin H, Ljungstrom K-G. Prevention of dextran anaphylaxis. Ten
    years experience with hapten dextran. *Int Arch Allergy Immunol*
    1997;113:358-359