The individuals who appear are for illustrative purposes. All persons depicted are models and not real patients.
Patient Resources
Getting started
If you have recommended a cardiac PET study for your patient, you already understand the diagnostic value of the exam and will use the results to make important decisions about their care.
Your patients may have some questions about the exam such as:
What is a
cardiac PET
exam?
How should I
prepare for my
cardiac PET exam?
Who will read
and interpret the
results of my test?
While a brochure is not intended to replace a heart-to-heart conversation with your patient, it can be a good place to start. We’ve developed this leaflet to help them prepare and answer their most pressing questions.
CARDIOGEN-82® (rubidium Rb 82 generator)
CARDIOGEN-82 is a closed system used to produce rubidium Rb 82 chloride injection for intravenous administration and is indicated for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) 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.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:
WARNING: HIGH LEVEL RADIATION EXPOSURE WITH USE OF INCORRECT ELUENT
AND FAILURE TO FOLLOWTHE ELUATE TESTING PROTOCOL
Please see full prescribing information for complete boxed warning
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 Sr 82 and Sr 85 breakthrough levels.
Use only additive-free 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection USP to elute the generator
Immediately stop the patient infusion and permanently discontinue the use of the affected Cardiogen-82 generator if the incorrect solution is used to elute the generator
Evaluate the patient’s radiation absorbed dose and monitor for the effects of radiation to critical organs such as bone marrow
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 Rb 82 chloride injection exceed specified limits.
Record each generator eluate volume, including waste and test volumes, and keep a record of the cumulative eluate volume
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, or 42 days post generator calibration date, or an eluate Sr 82 level of 0.01 μCi /mCi Rb 82, or an eluate Sr 85 level of 0.1 μCi /mCi Rb 82
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Cardiogen-82 is contraindicated if a solution other than additive free 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection USP has been used to elute the generator at any time. Immediately stop the patient infusion and permanently discontinue the use of the affected Cardiogen-82 generator whenever the incorrect eluent is used.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
High Level Radiation Exposure with Use of Incorrect Eluent
Use only additive free 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection USP to elute the generator. Apply the provided saline tag to the additive free 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection USP container before use. Additives present in other solutions (particularly calcium ions) expose patients to high levels of radiation by causing the release of large amounts of Sr 82 and Sr 85 into the eluate regardless of the generator’s age or prior use. Immediately stop the patient infusion and discontinue use of the affected Cardiogen-82 generator if the incorrect eluent is used and evaluate the patient’s radiation absorbed dose and monitor for the effects of radiation to critical organs such as bone marrow.
Excess Radiation Exposure with Failure to Follow Testing Protocol
Excess radiation exposure occurs when the Sr 82 and Sr 85 levels in rubidium Rb 82 chloride injections exceed the specified generator eluate limits. Strictly adhere to the eluate testing protocol to minimize radiation exposure to the patient. Stop using the rubidium generator when the expiration limits are reached.
Risk Associated with Pharmacologic Stress
Pharmacologic induction of cardiovascular stress may be associated with serious adverse reactions such as myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, hypotension, bronchoconstriction, and cerebrovascular events. Perform pharmacologic stress testing in accordance with the pharmacologic stress agent’s prescribing information and only in the setting where cardiac resuscitation equipment and trained staff are readily available.
Volume Overload
Patients with congestive heart failure or the elderly may experience a transitory increase in circulatory volume load.
Cumulative Radiation Exposure: Long-Term Risk of Cancer
Rubidium Rb 82 chloride injection, similar to other radiopharmaceuticals, contributes to a patient’s overall long-term cumulative radiation exposure which is associated with an increased risk of cancer. Use the lowest dose of rubidium Rb 82 chloride injection necessary for imaging and ensure safe handling to protect the patient and health care worker. Encourage patients to void as soon as a study is completed and as often as possible thereafter for at least one hour.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
Radiation Exposure
High level radiation exposure to the bone marrow has occurred in some patients due to Sr 82 and Sr 85 breakthrough in the eluate when an incorrect solution was used to elute the rubidium Rb 82 generator. Excess radiation exposure has occurred in some patients who received rubidium Rb 82 chloride injections at clinical sites where generator eluate testing appeared insufficient.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please click here for full Prescribing Information for Cardiogen-82 (rubidium Rb 82 generator) including boxed WARNING.
CARDIOGEN-82 is manufactured for Bracco Diagnostics Inc., Monroe Township, NJ 08831, by GE Healthcare, Medi-Physics, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ 07080.
CARDIOGEN-82 is a registered trademark of Bracco Diagnostics Inc.