Generic Name

Rb-82

Brand Names
CardioGen-82, Ruby-Fill
FDA approval date: December 30, 1989
Classification: Radioactive Diagnostic Agent
Form: Injection

What is CardioGen-82 (Rb-82)?

CardioGen-82 is a closed system used to produce rubidium Rb 82 chloride injection for intravenous administration. Rubidium Rb 82 chloride injection is indicated for Positron Emission Tomography imaging of the myocardium under rest or pharmacologic stress conditions to evaluate regional myocardial perfusion in adult patients with suspected or existing coronary artery disease. CardioGen-82 is a closed system used to produce rubidium Rb 82 chloride injection for intravenous use. Rubidium Rb 82 chloride injection is a radioactive diagnostic agent indicated for Positron Emission Tomography imaging of the myocardium under rest or pharmacologic stress conditions to evaluate regional myocardial perfusion in adult patients with suspected or existing coronary artery disease.

Brand Information

    CardioGen-82 (Rubidium Chloride RB-82)
    WARNING: HIGH LEVEL RADIATION EXPOSURE WITH USE OF INCORRECT ELUENT and FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE ELUATE TESTING PROTOCOL
    High Level Radiation Exposure with Use of Incorrect Eluent
    Patients are exposed to high radiation levels when the CardioGen-82 generator is eluted with the incorrect eluent due to high strontium (Sr) 82 and Sr 85 breakthrough levels.
    • Use only additive-free 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection to elute the generator.
    • If an incorrect solution is used to elute the CardioGen-82 generator:
    • Immediately stop the patient infusion;
    • Evaluate the patient’s radiation absorbed dose, and monitor for the effects of radiation to critical organs such as bone marrow;
    • Permanently discontinue the use of the affected generator
    Excess Radiation Exposure with Failure to Follow the Eluate Testing Protocol
    Excess radiation exposure occurs when the levels of Sr 82 or Sr 85 in the Rubidium Chloride Rb 82 Injection exceed specified limits.
    • Strictly adhere to the generator eluate testing protocol, to minimize the risk of excess radiation exposure, including daily testing and additional testing at Alert Limits.
    • Stop using the generator if it reaches any of its Expiration Limits:
    • 17 L for the generator’s cumulative eluate volume
    • 60 days post generator calibration date
    • An eluate Sr 82 level of 0.01 microCi /mCi Rb 82
    • An eluate Sr 85 level of 0.1 microCi /mCi Rb 82
    1INDICATIONS AND USAGE
    CardioGen-82, used to produce Rubidium Chloride Rb 82 Injection, is indicated for positron emission tomography (PET) of the myocardium under rest or pharmacologic stress conditions to evaluate regional myocardial perfusion in adult patients with suspected or existing coronary artery disease.
    2DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS
    Rubidium Rb 82 generator used to produce Rubidium Chloride Rb 82 Injection: strontium-82 (Sr 82), with an activity of 3,330 MBq to 5,550 MBq (90 mCi to 150 mCi) at calibration time, adsorbed on a hydrous stannic oxide column.
    3CONTRAINDICATIONS
    None.
    4ADVERSE REACTIONS
    The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling:
    • High Level Radiation Exposure with Use of Incorrect Eluent
    • Excess Radiation Exposure with Failure to Follow Eluate Testing Protocol
    The following serious adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of CardioGen-82. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
    Radiation Exposure
    High level radiation exposure to the bone marrow from using an incorrect eluent.
    5CLINICAL STUDIES
    In a descriptive, prospective, blinded image interpretation study of adult patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease, myocardial perfusion deficits in stress and rest PET images obtained with ammonia N 13 (n = 111) or rubidium chloride Rb 82 (n = 82) were compared to changes in stenosis flow reserve (SFR) as determined by coronary angiography. PET perfusion defects at rest and stress for seven cardiac regions (anterior, apical, anteroseptal, posterolateral, anterolateral, posterolateral, and inferior walls) were graded on a scale of 0 (normal) to 5 (severe). Values for stenosis flow reserve, defined as flow at maximum coronary vasodilatation relative to rest flow, ranged from 0 (total occlusion) to 5 (normal). With increasing impairment of flow reserve, the subjective PET defect severity increased. A PET defect score of 2 or higher was positively correlated with flow reserve impairment (SFR<3).
    A systematic review of published literature was conducted using pre-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria which resulted in identification of 10 studies evaluating the use of Rb 82 PET myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) for the identification of coronary artery disease as defined by catheter-based angiography. In these studies, the patient was the unit of analysis and 50% stenosis was the threshold for clinically significant coronary artery disease (CAD). Of these 10 studies, 9 studies were included in a meta-analysis for sensitivity (excluding one study with 100% sensitivity) and 7 studies were included in a meta-analysis of specificity (excluding 3 studies with 100% specificity). A random effects model yielded overall estimates of sensitivity and specificity of 92% (95% CI: 89% to 95%) and 81% (95% CI: 76% to 86%), respectively. The use of meta-analysis in establishing performance characteristics is limited, particularly by the possibility of publication bias (positive results being more likely to be published than negative results) which is difficult to detect especially when based on a limited number of small studies.
    6HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING
    How Supplied
    CardioGen-82 (rubidium Rb 82 generator), used to produce Rubidium Chloride Rb 82 Injection, is supplied in a lead shield surrounded by a labeled plastic container with an activity at calibration time of 3,330 MBq to 5,550 MBq (90 mCi to 150 mCi) of Sr 82 adsorbed on a hydrous stannic oxide column (NDC 0270-0091-01).
    The container label provides complete assay data for each generator.
    Storage and Handling
    Store the generator at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F) [See USP Controlled Room Temperature].
    Receipt, transfer, possession, storage, disposal or use of this product is subject to the radioactive material regulations and licensing requirements of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Agreement States or Licensing States as appropriate. Do not dispose of the generator in regular refuse systems.
    For questions about the disposal of the CardioGen-82 generator, contact Bracco Diagnostics Inc. at 1-800-447-6883, option 3.
    7PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION
    Post-Study Voiding
    Instruct patients to void after completion of each image acquisition session and as often as possible for one hour after completion of the PET scan
    Pregnancy
    Advise a pregnant woman of the potential risk to a fetus
    Lactation
    Advise lactating women that exposure to Rb 82 through breast milk can be minimized if breastfeeding is discontinued when Rubidium Chloride Rb 82 Injection is administered. Advise lactating women not to resume breastfeeding for at least one hour after administration of Rubidium Chloride Rb 82 Injection
    Manufactured for
    Manufactured By
    CardioGen-82
    CardioGen-82 has been selected.