The following information is obtained from various newswires,
published medical journal articles, and medical conference presentations.
Company: Orphan Medical
Approval Status: Approved October 1996
Treatment for: meningeal leukemia or lymphocytic lymphoma
General Information
Elliotts B Solution has been approved as a treatment for meningeal leukemia or lymphocytic lymphoma. Leukemia and lymphomas are two of the main types of childhood cancers.
Side Effects
Adverse reactions may occur with any given intrathecal injection due to the chemotherapy or the technique of intrathecal administration.
Mechanism of Action
Elliotts B Solution is comparable to cerebrospinal fluid in pH, electrolyte composition, glucose content, and osmolarity. Elliotts B Solution maintains the pH of methotrexate sodium and cytarabine closer to physiologic pH and provides a buffer capacity not found in other diluents, such as preservative-free saline.
Literature References
Cradock, J.C., et al. "Evaluation of some pharmaceutical aspects of intrathecal methotrexate sodium, cytarabine, and hydrocortisone sodium succinate." American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy (1978); 35:402.
Additional Information
Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is primarily a childhood leukemia, which accounts for approximately 57% of childhood leukemias. There are approximately 6,000 cases of ALL in the United States annually.
