Generalized Lipodystrophy (GL)
I knew my baby was different
Raeya was born with congenital generalized liposdystrophy, even though we didn’t know it at the time. But as soon as she was born and handed to me, I knew there was something to be concerned about.
Her skin was tight—not like other newborn babies I’d seen. She was also very muscularly defined, even though her belly was round. She looked like a bodybuilder.
Things got worse
Soon after she was born, Raeya’s skin turned yellow (known as jaundice). She always seemed extremely hungry and wanted to eat all the time. When she was about 2 months old, blood tests showed high fat and sugar levels in her blood. Even though she was very small and had very little body fat, her test results looked like those of an adult with obesity.
We then saw a gastroenterologist and found out that her liver was enlarged, which explained the size of her belly. She also had advanced bone age. We went back and forth seeing probably eight different specialists. It wasn’t until a geneticist we’d seen went to a seminar about lipodystrophy that suddenly all of the questions and concerns about Raeya connected and started to make sense. Finally, when she was 5 months old, she was diagnosed with congenital generalized lipodystrophy.
We were finally able to give her condition a name and get some answers. We learned that Raeya’s body doesn’t produce enough leptin. And the lack of leptin in Raeya’s body was causing her high triglycerides and high blood sugar.
What is Myalept?
Myalept® (metreleptin) is a leptin replacement therapy used with a doctor-recommended diet to treat problems caused by not having enough leptin (leptin deficiency) in people with generalized lipodystrophy.
- It is not known if Myalept is safe and effective when used to treat problems (complications) caused by partial lipodystrophy or to treat liver disease, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
- Myalept should not be used to treat people with HIV-related lipodystrophy or people with metabolic disease, including diabetes mellitus and hypertriglyceridemia, without signs or symptoms of congenital or acquired generalized lipodystrophy.
Important Safety Information
Myalept is only available through a restricted program called the Myalept Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Program. Your doctor must be enrolled and certified in the program in order to prescribe Myalept.
Myalept may cause serious side effects, including:
- risk for developing certain proteins called neutralizing antibodies that may reduce how well your own leptin or Myalept works. Side effects of these antibodies may include infection, problems with blood sugar (including diabetes), or an increase in triglycerides.
- increased risk of a type of blood cancer called lymphoma.
You should not take Myalept if you:
- have general obesity not caused by a congenital leptin deficiency.
- are allergic to metreleptin or any of the ingredients in Myalept. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching (hives), swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat, problems breathing or swallowing, fainting or dizziness, rapid heartbeat.
Before using Myalept, tell your doctor if you have any medical conditions including if you:
- have or have had problems with your blood cells, including low blood cell counts (especially your white blood cells), bone marrow, immune system, pancreas, swollen lymph nodes, lymphoma, high blood triglyceride levels, or use insulin or a sulfonylurea.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant as it is unknown if Myalept will harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while using Myalept, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with a program to collect information about the outcomes of moms and babies exposed to Myalept during pregnancy. You can enroll in the Myalept program by calling 1-855-669-2537.
- are nursing or plan to nurse. You should not nurse while you take Myalept.
Other possible side effects
The most common side effects of Myalept include headache, low blood sugar, decreased weight, and/or abdominal pain.
You may get low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) if you take Myalept with other medicines used to lower blood sugar, such as insulin or sulfonylurea. Your doses of these medications may need to be lowered while you use Myalept. Tell your doctor right away if you experience shakiness, sweating, headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, confusion, irritability, hunger, fast heartbeat, or a jittery feeling because these may be signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
For newborns and infants, mix Myalept with sterile water for injection (preservative-free) (WFI). Serious side effects including death have happened in newborns or infants who have received the preservative benzyl alcohol. Bacteriostatic water for injection contains benzyl alcohol and it should not be used to mix Myalept for newborns and infants.
Myalept may worsen symptoms caused by certain problems in your immune system (autoimmune disorder). Ask your doctor about what symptoms you should watch for that may require further testing.
Talk to your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of Myalept. For more information, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. Tell your doctor about all the medications you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Take Myalept exactly as your doctor instructs you.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.