Thyrogen Disease Interactions

Thyrotropin alfa is known to cause a transient (over 7 to 14 days) but significant rise in serum thyroid hormone concentration when given to patients who have substantial thyroid tissue still in situ or functional thyroid cancer metastases, There have been reports of death in non-thyroidectomized patients and in patients with distant metastatic thyroid cancer in which events leading to death occurred within 24 hours after administration of the drug. Patients with residual thyroid tissue at risk for thyrotropin alfa-induced hyperthyroidism include the elderly and those with a known history of heart disease. Hospitalization for administration of therapy and post-administration observation in patients at risk should be considered.

The elimination of thyrotropin alfa is significantly slower in dialysis-dependent end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, resulting in prolonged elevation of TSH levels.