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Ethamolin Description

Ethamolin® (Ethanolamine Oleate) Injection is a mild sclerosing agent. Chemically it is C17H33COOH•NH2CH2CH2OH. It has the following structure:

The empirical formula is C20H41NO3, representing a molecular weight of 343.55.

Ethamolin Injection consists of ethanolamine, a basic substance, which when combined with oleic acid forms a clear, straw to pale yellow colored, deliquescent oleate. The pH ranges from 8.0 to 9.0.

Ethamolin Injection is a sterile, apyrogenic, aqueous solution containing in each mL approximately 50 mg of ethanolamine oleate with benzyl alcohol 2% by volume as preservative.

Ethamolin - Clinical Pharmacology

When injected intravenously, Ethamolin Injection acts primarily by irritation of the intimal endothelium of the vein and produces a sterile dose-related inflammatory response. This results in fibrosis and possible occlusion of the vein. Ethamolin Injection also rapidly diffuses through the venous wall and produces a dose-related extravascular inflammatory reaction.

The oleic acid component of the Ethamolin Injection is responsible for the inflammatory response, and may also activate coagulation in vivo by release of tissue factor and activation of Hageman factor. The ethanolamine component, however, may inhibit fibrin clot formation by chelating calcium, so that a procoagulant action of Ethamolin has not been demonstrated.

After injection, Ethamolin disappears from the injection site within five minutes via the portal vein. When volumes larger than 20 mL are injected, some Ethamolin also flows into the azygos vein through the periesophageal vein. In human autopsy studies it was found that within four days after injection there is neutrophil infiltration of the esophageal wall and hemorrhage within six days. Granulation tissue is first seen at ten days, red thrombi obliterating the varices by twenty days, and sclerosis of the varices by two and a half months. The time course of these findings suggests that sclerosis of esophageal varices will be a delayed rather than an immediate effect of the drug.

The minimum lethal dose of Ethamolin Injection administered intravenously to rabbits is 130 mg/kg.

In dogs, Ethamolin injected into the right atrium at a dose of 1 mL/kg over one minute has been shown to increase extravascular lung water. The maximum recommended human dose is 20 mL, or 0.4 mL/kg for a 50-kg person. The concentration of Ethamolin reaching the lung in human treatment will be less than in the dog studies, but pleural effusions, pulmonary edema, pulmonary infiltration and pneumonitis have been reported in clinical trials, and minimizing the total per session dose, especially in patients with concomitant cardiopulmonary disease, is recommended (see PRECAUTIONS).

Indications and Usage for Ethamolin

Ethamolin Injection is indicated for the treatment of patients with esophageal varices that have recently bled, to prevent rebleeding.

Ethamolin is not indicated for the treatment of patients with esophageal varices that have not bled. There is no evidence that treatment of this population decreases the likelihood of bleeding.

Sclerotherapy with Ethamolin has no beneficial effect upon portal hypertension, the cause of esophageal varices, so that recanalization and collateralization may occur, necessitating reinjection.

Contraindications

Ethamolin Injection should not be administered to subjects with a known hypersensitivity to ethanolamine, oleic acid, or ethanolamine oleate.

Warnings

Ethamolin Injection should be used in pregnant women only when clearly needed (see PRECAUTIONS).

The practice of injecting varicosities of the leg with Ethamolin Injection is not supported by adequately controlled clinical trials. Therefore, such use is not recommended.

Precautions

General Precautions

Fatal anaphylactic shock was reported following injection of a larger than normal volume of Ethamolin Injection into a male who had a known allergic disposition. Although there are only three known reports of anaphylaxis, the possibility of an anaphylactic reaction should be kept in mind, and the physician should be prepared to treat it appropriately. In extreme emergencies, 0.25 mL of a 1:1,000 intravenous solution of epinephrine (0.25 mg) should be used and allergic reactions should be controlled with antihistamines.

Acute renal failure with spontaneous recovery followed injection of 15 to 20 mL of Ethamolin Injection into two women.

The physician should bear in mind that severe injection necrosis may result from direct injection of sclerosing agents, especially if excessive volumes are used. At least one fatal case of extensive esophageal necrosis and death has been reported. The drug should be administered by physicians who are familiar with an acceptable injection technique.

Patients in Child Class C are more likely to develop esophageal ulceration than those in Classes A and B. Complications of ulceration, necrosis, and delayed esophageal perforation appear to occur more frequently when Ethamolin Injection is injected submucosally. This route is not recommended.

In patients with concomitant cardiorespiratory disease, careful monitoring and minimization of the total dose per session is recommended.

Fatal aspiration pneumonia has occurred in elderly patients undergoing esophageal variceal sclerotherapy with Ethamolin Injection. This adverse event appears to be procedure-related rather than drug-related, but as aspiration of blood and/or stomach contents is not uncommon in patients with bleeding esophageal varices, special precautions should be taken to prevent its occurrence, especially in the elderly and critically ill subjects.

Pregnancy

Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Ethamolin Injection. It is also not known whether Ethamolin Injection can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Ethamolin Injection should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

Nursing Mothers

It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Ethamolin Injection is administered to a nursing woman.

Pediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.

Adverse Reactions

The reported frequency of complications/adverse events per injection session was 13%. The most common complications were pleural effusion/infiltration (2.1%), esophageal ulcer (2.1%), pyrexia (1.8%), retrosternal pain (1.6%), esophageal stricture (1.3%), and pneumonia (1.2%).

Other adverse local esophageal reactions have also been reported at rates of 0.1 to 0.4%, including esophagitis, tearing of the esophagus, sloughing of the mucosa overlying the injected varix, ulceration, stricture, necrosis, periesophageal abscess and perforation (see PRECAUTIONS). These complications appear to be dependent upon the dose and the patient’s clinical state.

Bacteremia has been observed in patients following injection of esophageal varices with Ethamolin. Pyrexia and retrosternal pain are not infrequently observed during the post-injection period. Fatal aspiration pneumonia has occurred in patients with esophageal varices who underwent Ethamolin Injection Sclerotherapy (see PRECAUTIONS). Anaphylactic shock and acute renal failure with spontaneous recovery have occurred (see PRECAUTIONS). A case of disseminated intravascular coagulation has been reported.

Spinal cord paralysis due to occlusion of the anterior spinal artery has been reported in one child eight hours after Ethamolin sclerotherapy.

Overdosage

Overdosage of Ethamolin Injection can result in severe intramural necrosis of the esophagus. Complications resulting from such overdosage have resulted in death.

Ethamolin Dosage and Administration

Local Ethamolin Injection sclerotherapy of esophageal varices should be performed by physicians who are familiar with an acceptable technique. The usual intravenous dose is 1.5 to 5.0 mL per varix. The maximum dose per treatment session should not exceed 20 mL. Patients with significant liver dysfunction (Child Class C) or concomitant cardiopulmonary disease should usually receive less than the recommended maximum dose. Submucosal injections are not recommended as they are reportedly more likely to result in ulceration at the site of injection.

To obliterate the varix, injections may be made at the time of the acute bleeding episode and then after one week, six weeks, three months, and six months as indicated.

Note: Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration before administration whenever solution and container permit.

How is Ethamolin Supplied

Ethamolin® (Ethanolamine Oleate) Injection, 5% is available in 2 mL ampules supplied as boxes of 10 ampules.

Storage

Store at controlled room temperature, 15°− 30°C (59°− 86°F). Protect from light.

CAUTION: Federal law prohibits dispensing without prescription.

Manufactured for QOL Medical, LLC.

QOL Medical, LLC

Woodinville, WA 98077 USA

1-866-469-3773

PL041/Rev. 04

Revised: 05/2006