interleukin-8 and Niemann-Pick-Disease--Type-A

Enzyme replacement therapy with olipudase alfa (recombinant human acid sphingomyelinase) is being developed for Niemann-Pick disease type B (NPD B).. A single-center, open-label, nonrandomized, single-ascending-dose trial evaluated the safety of intravenous olipudase alfa (0.03-1.0 mg/kg) in 11 adults with NPD B. Patients were monitored in the hospital for 72 h after infusion and had follow-up visits on days 14 and 28.. Plasma ceramide, a product of sphingomyelin catabolism by olipudase alfa, showed dose-dependent elevations by 6 h postdose, or postinfusion. No serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occurred during the study. Acute phase reaction-type ADRs, as evidenced by elevated inflammatory biomarkers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-8, and calcitonin) and constitutional symptoms (fever, pain, nausea, and/or vomiting) emerged 12-24 h following doses ≥0.3 mg/kg olipudase alfa. Three patients experienced hyperbilirubinemia. The study was terminated after a patient dosed at 1 mg/kg exhibited severe hyperbilirubinemia; he was subsequently diagnosed with Gilbert syndrome.. The maximum tolerated dose of olipudase alfa in adults with NPD B was 0.6 mg/kg. First-dose ADRs were likely induced by elevated concentrations of ceramide (or its downstream derivatives) generated by the catabolism of accumulated sphingomyelin. Within-patient dose escalation to slowly catabolize sphingomyelin stores may be a strategy to mitigate first-dose ADRs in patients with NPD B.Genet Med 18 1, 34-40.

Topics: Adult; C-Reactive Protein; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Replacement Therapy; Female; Humans; Hyperbilirubinemia; Interleukin-8; Male; Middle Aged; Niemann-Pick Disease, Type A; Niemann-Pick Disease, Type B; Recombinant Proteins; Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase