Side Effects

Does Campath^® (alemtuzumab) have any serious side effects?

Although monoclonal antibodies, such as Campath, are targeted to attack cancerous blood cells, they can also affect some noncancerous cells. Because some of these healthy cells are part of your immune system and help your body fight infection, your risk of infection will be increased during and after Campath therapy. Certain infections can be severe and even fatal. Your doctor will prescribe medications to help prevent infections, and it is important for you to take these medications exactly as your doctor prescribes.

It is important for you to take these medications exactly as your doctor prescribes. Your doctor will continue to monitor your blood counts after therapy in order to know when these medications can safely be stopped.

How can Campath affect noncancerous cells?

It may temporarily reduce the number of (a) red blood cells, which can increase your risk of anemia; (b) platelets, which can increase your risk of bleeding; and (c) germ-fighting white blood cells, which can increase your risk of bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. And since Campath may reduce the total number of all these blood cells, your bone marrow function can be impaired — which can be a serious and even fatal disorder. Your treatment team will monitor your blood counts closely during and after Campath therapy to help avoid these complications.

If you are a man with reproductive potential or a woman capable of having a baby, you should use effective birth control during treatment and for at least 6 months after treatment with Campath. It is not known whether Campath can harm a fetus. If you are a nursing mother, stop breast-feeding during treatment and for at least 3 months after your last dose of Campath.

What other side effects have been associated with Campath?

Some patients have reactions (such as chills or fever, or more serious reactions, such as heart problems), called "infusion-related" side effects, when they receive their Campath treatments in the doctor's office or clinic. Since your doctor knows this, he or she may help to minimize these effects by giving you medications before your treatments. Medicines such as diphenhydramine or acetaminophen may help avoid or reduce allergic reactions and chills/fever. Side effects involving the circulatory system have been fatal in some cases. To help avoid serious reactions, your doctor may prescribe a medication like hydrocortisone. Sometimes you may have side effects later in the evening after a treatment. Your doctor or nurse will tell you what to do if this happens. Some side effects may be severe, so it is important to tell your medical team as soon as you begin to experience them, no matter when they occur.

In clinical studies, most infusion-related side effects were mild to moderate and were more common during the first week of treatment. Chills (rigors), fever, nausea, vomiting, and low blood pressure are common during Campath treatment and may occur while you are receiving an infusion. These effects can be minimized with premedication, as well as incremental dose escalation.

Other reported side effects include rash, fatigue, shortness of breath, coughing, diarrhea, hives, headache, loss of appetite, itching, sweating, dizziness, and abdominal pain.