Hexaminolevulinate
Back to search| Scientific Name: | Hexaminolevulinate |
| Brand Name: | Cysview |
| Company Owner: | Not Available |
| Mechanism Of Action | Hexaminolevulinate is an ester of the heme precursor, aminolevulinic acid. After bladder instillation, hexaminolevulinate enters the bladder mucosa and is proposed to enter the intracellular space of mucosal cells where it is used as a precursor in the formation of the photoactive intermediate protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) and other photoactive porphyrins (PAPs) . PpIX and PAPs are reported to accumulate preferentially in neoplastic cells as compared to normal urothelium, partly due to altered enzymatic activity in the neoplastic cells. After excitation with light at wavelengths between 360 and 450 nm, PpIX and other PAPs return to a lower energy level by fluorescing, which can be detected and used for cystoscopic detection of lesions. The fluorescence from tumor tissue appears bright red and demarcated, whereas the background normal tissue appears dark blue. Similar processes may occur in inflamed cells. |
| Description of the Drug: | Hexaminolevulinate is an optical imaging agent used to perform Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC™) in order to detect carcinoma of the bladder. |
| Protein Data Bank: | Not Available |
Source: DrugBank Online – DrugBank.com. Retrieved 2023-01-23 from https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB06261
