Elitek

Elitek is a medication used to lower uric acid levels in people receiving anticancer treatments. It’s an enzyme, which is a type of protein, that breaks down uric acid in your body. People with leukemia, lymphoma, or certain other types of cancer have a higher risk of developing a serious reaction called tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) after starting anticancer medications. TLS happens when the anticancer medications break apart the cancer cells, and this releases a lot of uric acid into your body. When the uric acid levels become dangerously high, it can damage your kidneys and cause abnormal heart rhythms.

Elitek is given as an injection through the veins (IV). It's typically given to people in the hospital by a healthcare provider. Your provider will determine the right dose for you. You’ll typically receive one Elitek IV infusion daily for up to 5 days. Each infusion lasts about 30 minutes. You’ll only receive one treatment course of this medication.

The most common side effects of Elitek are vomiting, nausea, swelling of the arms or legs (peripheral edema), anxiety, headache, stomach pain, and throat pain.

Yes, Elitek can cause some serious side effects. 1) Though rare, Elitek can cause serious allergic reactions, which can be life-threatening. This can result in trouble breathing, hives, flushing, or swelling. 2) In some people who lack a specific enzyme, Elitek can cause your red blood cells to break down too quickly. When you have low red blood cells, you can feel tired, weak, dizzy, or have pale skin. Your provider might do a blood test to check if you’re missing this enzyme. If you are, you can’t take this medication. 3) Elitek might also cause a serious condition known as methemoglobinemia. This causes the blood to be unable to deliver oxygen to the body well. The signs of this reaction are pale-, gray-, or blue-colored skin, headache, irregular heart rate, trouble breathing, dizziness, or tiredness. Make sure to get medical help right away if you experience any symptoms of a serious side effect.

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a serious reaction that can happen when you’re treated with anticancer medications. During TLS, many cancer cells die quickly and break apart in your body. This causes a rapid release of the cells’ contents, including uric acid. When there’s high levels of uric acid and other cancer cell contents in your blood, you can experience serious kidney damage and irregular heart rhythms. You’re at higher risk if you have a large number of cancer cells in your body or if your tumor is large. Your provider will monitor you more closely if you have a higher risk for TLS. Tell your provider right away if you’ve symptoms of TLS, such as urinating less than usual or have dark urine, muscle cramps, or a racing heartbeat.