Alacare (Aminolevulinic Acid)
Alacare (Aminolevulinic Acid) Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.
A compound produced from succinyl-CoA and glycine as an intermediate in heme synthesis. It is used as a photochemotherapy for actinic keratosis. [PubChem]
The metabolism of aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is the first step in the biochemical pathway resulting in heme synthesis. Alacare (Aminolevulinic Acid) is not a photosensitizer, but rather a metabolic precursor of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), which is a photosensitizer. The synthesis of ALA is normally tightly controlled by feedback inhibition of the enzyme, ALA synthetase, presumably by intracellular heme levels. ALA, when provided to the cell, bypasses this control point and results in the accumulation of PpIX, which is converted into heme by ferrochelatase through the addition of iron to the PpIX nucleus.
| Trade Name | Alacare (Aminolevulinic Acid) |
| Generic | Aminolevulinic acid |
| Aminolevulinic acid Other Names | 5-ALA, 5-Aminolevulinic acid, ácido 5-aminolevulínico, Aminolevulinic acid, dALA |
| Type | |
| Formula | C5H9NO3 |
| Weight | Average: 131.1299 Monoisotopic: 131.058243159 |
| Groups | Approved |
| Therapeutic Class | |
| Manufacturer | |
| Available Country | Austria, Finland, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland |
| Last Updated: | September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am |
Uses
Alacare (Aminolevulinic Acid) is a porphyrin precursor used to treat actinic keratosis of the face, scalp, and upper extremities, as well as to visualize a glioma.
Alacare (Aminolevulinic Acid) plus blue light illumination using a blue light photodynamic therapy illuminator is indicated for the treatment of minimally to moderately thick actinic keratoses of the face or scalp.
Alacare (Aminolevulinic Acid) is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Actinic Cheilitis, Actinic Keratoses of the face, Actinic Keratoses of the scalp, Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
How Alacare (Aminolevulinic Acid) works
According to the presumed mechanism of action, photosensitization following application of aminolevulinic acid (ALA) topical solution occurs through the metabolic conversion of ALA to protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), which accumulates in the skin to which aminolevulinic acid has been applied. When exposed to light of appropriate wavelength and energy, the accumulated PpIX produces a photodynamic reaction, a cytotoxic process dependent upon the simultaneous presence of light and oxygen. The absorption of light results in an excited state of the porphyrin molecule, and subsequent spin transfer from PpIX to molecular oxygen generates singlet oxygen, which can further react to form superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. Photosensitization of actinic (solar) keratosis lesions using aminolevulinic acid, plus illumination with the BLU-UTM Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy Illuminator (BLU-U), is the basis for aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (PDT).
Toxicity
Solution overdose have not been reported.
Food Interaction
No interactions found.Elimination Route
Oral bioavailability is 50-60%.
Half Life
Mean half-life is 0.70 ± 0.18 h after the oral dose and 0.83 ± 0.05 h after the intravenous dose.
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