Review of the Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Calcium Disodium Edetate and Penicillamine for the Treatment of Lead Poisoning in Children
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18th Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines (21 to 25 March 2011) Section 4.2 (Review) -- Children REVIEW OF THE COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY OF CALCIUM DISODIUM EDETATE AND PENICILLAMINE FOR THE TREATMENT OF LEAD POISONING IN CHILDREN Report October 2010 Brian M. Kaiser Pharm.D.; BCPS Clinical Pharmacist, Pediatrics University of California, San Francisco Medical Center The Benioff Children’s Hospital Assistant Clinical Professor University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy 521 Parnassus Ave, Rm. C‐152 San Francisco, CA 94143 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Tel: +14154435046 Fax: +14153531305 1. Background In October 2007, the Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines noted that lead poisoning was a significant public health problem in many developing countries. Treatment of lead poisoning, therefore, was considered essential to include on the Essential Medicines List for Children. While penicillamine and sodium calcium edetate are both licensed for this indication, there was no basis for the Subcommittee to determine which, if any, was superior. Both were therefore included, and a review of efficacy and safety was requested.i The Subcommittee of the Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines reiterated the need for a synthesized or systemic review of the safety and effectiveness of penicillamine compared to sodium calcium edetate for the treatment of lead poisoning in the fall of 2008.ii The current document provides a review of the evidence to inform key stakeholders of the efficacy and safety or penicillamine and sodium calcium edetate in the treatment of lead poisoning in pediatric patients. 2. International Nonpropriety Name (INN, generic name) of the medicine INN: Calcium disodium edetate Generic name: edetate calcium disodium Chemical name: [[N,N'‐1,2‐ethanediyl‐bis[N‐(carboxymethyl)‐ glycinato]](4‐)‐N,N',O,O',ON,ON']‐, disodium, hydrate, (OC‐6‐21)‐Calciate(2‐) INN: d‐penicillamine Generic name: penicillamine Chemical name: (2s)‐2‐amino‐3‐methyl‐3‐sulphanylbutanoic acid 3. Formulation Calcium disodium edetate: 200 mg calcium disodium edetate in 1 mL; vials of 2.5 mL and 5 mL Penicillamine: 250 mg penicillamine capsules; 30 capsules per package 250 mg penicillamine tablets, scores; 30 tablets per package A 50 mg/mL suspension may be made by mixing sixty 250 mg capsules with 3 g carboxymethylcellulose, 150 g sucrose, 300 mg citric acid, parabens (methylparaben 120 mg, propylparaben 12 mg, propylene glycol qs ad to 100 mL), and purified water to a total volume of 300 mL; cherry flavor may be added. Stability is 30 days refrigerated. (DeCastro Hosp Pharm 1977) 4. Global burden of disease It was estimated that in 2000, 120 million people worldwide had blood lead levels of 5‐10 mcg/dL and approximately the same number had levels above 10mcg/dL. About 40% of children had blood lead levels above 5mcg/dL and 20% above 10 mcg/dL, with 97% of these children living in developing regions. Less then 10% of children had levels above 20 mcg/dL but, 99% of those that did lived in developing regions.iii In the United States, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey has documented a steady decline in the number of children 1‐5 years old with blood lead levels > 10 mcg/dL 77.8% 2 (1976‐1980) down to 1.6% (1999‐2002).iv The dramatic decline has resulted in improved health and productivity, with an estimated averted health cost of $312 billion.v vi 5. Indications for use 5.1 Calcium disodium edetate The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved calcium disodium edetate in both adults and children for the reduction of blood levels and depot stores of lead in lead poisoning (acute and chronic) and lead encephalopathy.vii 5.2 Penicillamine The indications for penicillamine are many and varied. In the case of adults, the FDA approved indications for penicillamine include: cystinuria, severe and active rheumatoid arthritis that has failed to respond to conventional therapy, and Wilson’s Disease. Penicillamine is not approved for the treatment of lead poisoning by the FDA, nor is there any approved indication for use in pediatric patients.viii 6. Treatment details (dosage regimen, duration; reference to existing WHO and other clinical guidelines; need for special diagnostic or treatment facilities and skills) 6.1 Dosage regimens Table 6.1: Indications and dose regimens for calcium disodium edetate and penicillamine in childrenix Indication(s) Dosage Duration of treatment Calcium disodium edetate Symptoms of lead 250mg/ m2/dose IM every 4 5 days, wait a minimum of 2 encephalopathy and/or blood hours days with no treatment before lead level >70 mcg/dL* 50mg/kg/day IV as a considering a repeat course continuous 24 hour infusion OR 1‐1.5gm/ m2 IV as either an 8 to 24 hour infusion or divided into 2 doses every 12 hours Symptomatic lead poisoning 167 mg/ m2/dose IM every 4 3‐5 days without encephalopathy or hours asymptomatic with blood lead 1gm/ m2 IV as an 8 to 24 hour level >70 mcg/dL† infusion or divided every 12 hours Asymptomatic children with 25mg/kg/day IV as an 8 to 24 5 days blood lead level 45‐69 mcg/dL hour infusion or divided every Depending upon the blood lead 12 hours level, additional courses may be necessary; repeat at least 2‐4 days, preferably 2‐4 weeks, apart Penicillamine Lead poisoning 20‐30 mg/kg/day orally in 3‐4 4‐12 weeks divided doses, maximum dose Depends upon pretreatment is 1.5gm/day blood lead level Start at 25% of total dose and increase gradually to full dose over 2‐3 weeks Moderate lead poisoning (blood 15mg/kg/day orally in 2 4‐12 weeks lead level 20‐40 mcg/dL) divided doses Depends upon pretreatment blood lead level Abbreviations: mg = milligram; gm = gram; kg = kilogram; m2 = meters squared; IM = intramuscular; IV = intravenous 3 * Use in conjunction with dimercaprol † Recommended to be used with dimercaprol until blood lead level is < 50mcg/dL 6.2 Reference to existing WHO and other clinical guidelines The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the following for children with confirmed elevated blood level concentrations. Table 6.2 CDC recommendations for children who have confirmed (venous) elevated blood lead concentrationsx Blood Lead Concentration Recommendation 10‐14 mcg/dL Lead education Follow‐up blood lead monitoring within 1 month 15‐19 mcg/dL Lead education Follow‐up blood lead monitoring within 1 month Proceed according to actions for 20‐44 mcg/dL if a follow‐ up blood lead concentration is in this range after at least 3 months; or blood level increases 20‐44 mcg/dL Lead education Follow‐up blood lead monitoring within 1 week Complete history and physical Laboratory work (hemoglobin, hematocrit, iron) Environmental investigation Neurodevelopmental monitoring Abdominal radiography (if particulate lead ingestion is suspected, with bowel decontamination if indicated) 45‐69 mcg/dL Lead education Follow‐up blood lead monitoring within 48 hours Complete history and physical Laboratory work (hemoglobin, hematocrit, iron, free erythrocyte protoporphyrin or zinc protoporphyin) Environmental investigation Lead hazard reduction Neurodevelopmental monitoring Abdominal radiography (if particulate lead ingestion is suspected, with bowel decontamination if indicated) Chelation therapy ≥ 70 mcg/dL Hospitalize and commence chelation therapy Follow‐up confirmation of blood level immediately Proceed according to actions for 45‐69 mcg/dL The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) makes specific recommendations for drug treatment based upon the CDC guidelines for venous blood lead level. If the blood lead level is greater than 45 mcg/dL and exposure source has been controlled, treatment should begin with oral succimer. Children with symptoms of lead poisoning or with a blood lead level greater than 70 mcg/dL or who are allergic or react to succimer should be hospitalized and receive treatment with calcium disodium edetate. The safety and efficacy of penicillamine has not been established and is reserved as a third line agent.xi 4 7. Summary of efficacy in the treatment of lead poisoning 7.1 Penicillamine 7.1.1 Literature search Medline (1950‐ September 2010), the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the World Health Organization website were searched to identify all published papers and trial reports that described the use of penicillamine for lead poisoning in children. Search terms used to identify studies included: penicillamine, lead, poisoning, infant, child, pediatrics, neonates and children. Medical subject headings (MeSH) were used when available or appropriate. Reference lists of retrieved articles were reviewed to identify any potentially relevant studies not identified during the database searches. The literature search did not identify any prospective randomized trials. Two prospective reports analyzed the use of penicillamine in children with small lead burdens.xii xiiiA retrospective cohort addressed the efficacy of penicillamine in children for lead poisoning; another retrospective analysis addressed adverse events.xiv xv 7.1.2 Efficacy Shannon et al studied the use of penicillamine in 27 children. The mean age was 33 months (range 14‐72). Patients received penicillamine as a crushed tablet or opened capsule dosed 15‐ 30 mg/kg daily. Clinic visits were made every two to four weeks for measurement of blood lead levels, erythrocyte protoporphyin levels, hematologic index and urinalysis. Mean treatment duration was 10 weeks (range, 4‐20 weeks). Results are shown