Aminolevulinic acid
Brand names: ALACARE AMELUZ GLEOLAN GLIOLAN LEVULAN KERASTICK
Therapeutic Indications
Aminolevulinic acid is indicated for:
Visualisation of malignant glioma
Irrespective of gender only Adults (18 years old or older)
5-Aminolevulinic acid is indicated in adult patients for visualisation of malignant tissue during surgery for malignant glioma (WHO grade III and IV).
For this indication, the medical literature mentions below treatments (click for details):
Treatment 1: Oral - 20 mg/kg once
Contraindications
Active ingredient Aminolevulinic acid is contraindicated in the following cases:
Tetracyclines, sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones, hypericin extracts
No gender/age discrimination
After administration of this medicinal product, exposure of eyes and skin to strong light sources (e.g. operating illumination, direct sunlight or brightly focused indoor light) should be avoided for 24 hours. Co-administration with other potentially phototoxic substances (e.g. tetracyclines, sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones, hypericin extracts) should be avoided.
Lactation
No gender/age discrimination
It is unknown whether 5-ALA or its metabolite protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) is excreted in human milk. The excretion of 5-ALA or PPIX in milk has not been studied in animals. Breast-feeding should be interrupted for 24 hours after treatment with this medicinal product.
Pregnancy
No gender/age discrimination
There are no or limited amount of data from the use of 5-ALA in pregnant women. Some limited animal studies suggest an embryotoxic activity of 5-ALA plus light exposure. Therefore, 5-ALA should not be used during pregnancy.
Photosensitizing agent
No gender/age discrimination
Patients should not be exposed to any photosensitizing agent up to 2 weeks after administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid.
Porphyria
No gender/age discrimination
5-Aminolevulinic acid is contraindicated in acute or chronic types of porphyria.