IT CATALYZES THE HYDROLYSIS OF GLUCOCEREBROSIDE TO GLUCOSE AND CERAMIDE AS PART OF THE NORMAL DEGRADATION PATHWAY FOR MEMBRANE LIPIDS. ONSET OF ACTION STARTS FOLLOWING IV INFUSION OVER A 4-H PERIOD, STEADY-STATE ENZYMATIC ACTIVITY IS ACHIEVED BY 60 MIN. DURATION OF ACTION FOLLOWING INFUSION TERMINATION; PLASMA ENZYMATIC ACTIVITY DECLINED RAPIDLY WITH AN ELIMINATION T Β½ RANGING FROM 3.6 TO 10.4 MIN.
ANTIBODIES
APPROXIMATELY 13% OF PATIENTS MAY DEVELOP IMMUNOGLOBULIN G ANTIBODY DURING FIRST YR OF THERAPY, OF WHICH 25% MAY EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS OF HYPERSENSITIVITY.
INFECTIONS
BECAUSE ALGLUCERASE IS PREPARED FROM POOLED HUMAN PLACENTAL TISSUE, THERE IS A RISK OF TRANSMISSION OF INFECTIOUS AGENTS (EG, VIRUSES), INCLUDING CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE.