Kresladi is a one-time personalized gene therapy used for certain children with leukocyte adhesion deficiency type 1 (LAD-1). Kresladi affects your child’s immune system and helps them make healthy white blood cells.
Like most medicines, Kresladi may cause side effects and interact with other medicines.
Keep reading to learn about potential interactions and side effects of Kresladi, things to do to try to prevent them, what to do if they happen, and when to tell your child’s health care provider.
This article does not include all possible side effects or interactions. Tell your child’s health care provider about any symptoms that concern you or do not improve.
Common Kresladi Side Effects
The most common Kresladi side effects reported in clinical studies include:
- Mouth or lip sores
- Infections
- Skin changes
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
In most cases, these side effects are temporary and often improve on their own. But if your child has symptoms that are severe or last a long time, contact their health care provider.
Serious Side Effects of Kresladi
Potentially serious Kresladi side effects are less common but may include:
- Serious infections
- A problem that affects the blood vessels in the liver
- Blood disorders that may increase the risks of bleeding or infections
- Allergic reactions
If you think your child may be having a serious side effect from Kresladi, contact your child’s health care provider right away. In some cases, severe symptoms may require urgent medical care. Your child’s health care provider can look at their symptoms and explain what steps to take next.
The sections below explain common Kresladi side effects and what to do to help reduce or relieve them.
Tips for Managing Kresladi Side Effects
Some Kresladi side effects can be managed with simple strategies.
1. Mouth or lip sores
Mouth or lip sores (mucositis) are one of the most common side effects of Kresladi. In studies, almost 90% of the children using Kresladi had mucositis.
Symptoms of mucositis may include red or swollen gums, bleeding, and mouth or throat pain. Sometimes these symptoms can be severe.
Below are some tips to possibly prevent or reduce symptoms of mucositis:
- Brush teeth or gums regularly and gently three or four times a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush and mild toothpaste.
- Try to do regular mouth rinses several times a day with salt water or a mixture of salt water and baking soda.
- Eat soft, mild foods, such as yogurt or smoothies.
- Soothe your mouth with cold foods or drinks, such as ice pops and ice cream, or try sucking on ice chips.
- Drink through a straw to keep liquids away from mouth sores.
Tell your child’s health care provider right away if your child has mucositis. It is better to catch it early. If mucositis gets severe, it can make it hard for your child to eat or drink. Your child’s health care provider may recommend medicine to treat their symptoms.
2. Infections
Infections were another common side effect of Kresladi during studies. The infections are unlikely to be caused by Kresladi itself; they are more likely due to the treatment your child gets before their stem cells are collected to prepare their Kresladi dose. The most common infection reported in studies included respiratory infections of the mouth, nose, or throat.
Common symptoms of respiratory infections include sneezing, scratchy or sore throat, or a stuffy or runny nose.
To reduce the risk for infections, make sure your child:
- Washes their hands regularly with soap and water or uses hand sanitizer
- Avoids close contact with people who are sick
- Eats a healthy and balanced diet
- Gets plenty of sleep
Here are some things to do at home to help with symptoms of respiratory infections:
- Make sure your child is getting enough fluids. Options include drinking water, juices, or soups.
- Use a humidifier to keep the air moist.
- Use saline sprays to help with a stuffy nose.
- Have your child gargle with salt water to soothe a sore throat.
Some infections can be serious, especially since your child’s immune system may not be working as well as it should be. Contact their health care provider if your child has fever, sweats or chills, cough, or flu-like symptoms, including achy muscles. They may want to see your child or have other suggestions to help. A health care provider may also prescribe medicines to treat or prevent infections.
3. Nausea
Nausea is a common side effect of Kresladi. In studies, almost half of the people had nausea and/or vomiting.
Nausea is a feeling that you might throw up, but it does not always lead to vomiting.
Tips to help prevent or ease nausea:
- Offer smaller, more frequent meals (instead of two or three large ones).
- Avoid or limit high-fat foods, such as cheese and butter, and greasy foods.
- Choose bland foods, such as saltine crackers, rice, or toast.
- Encourage your child to sip on clear liquids throughout the day.
Tell their health care provider if your child’s nausea worsens or does not go away. They may recommend a medicine to help.
4. Vomiting
Vomiting may happen along with nausea. In studies, almost half of the people had nausea and/or vomiting.
Tips to help prevent vomiting are similar to the tips for nausea mentioned above. Others include:
- Encourage your child to take small sips of clear fluids throughout the day to avoid dehydration.
- Offer light, bland foods when your child feels up to eating.
- Avoid strong smells or foods that seem to trigger your child’s nausea.
Contact your child’s health care provider right away if vomiting is ongoing or severe. They will guide you on what to do next, including treatment options for vomiting.y can help you plan the right timing.
Understanding Kresladi Interactions
As mentioned above, Kresladi is a personalized gene therapy medicine. It delivers a corrected copy of the faulty gene into your child’s own stem cells using a specially made particle. Because this particle shares some features with certain viruses, it may interact with related medicines, vaccines, and lab tests.
Antiretrovirals
Antiretrovirals are used to treat HIV. They may interact with your child’s Kresladi treatment.
Examples include:
HIV medicines can interfere with the process used to prepare your child’s personalized dose of Kresladi. Tell your child’s health care provider about all medicines your child takes, including any HIV medicines, before starting the Kresladi process. Your child’s health care provider can guide you on any changes needed to prevent treatment delays or complications.
Vaccines
It is not known how certain vaccines and the process of preparing your child for their dose of Kresladi may affect one another. Examples of vaccines that may interact with Kresladi include the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and the chickenpox vaccine.
Vaccines are not recommended for a certain period of time before receiving Kresladi. Talk to your child's health care provider as early as possible about your child’s vaccination history and any upcoming vaccines. They can help you plan the right timing.
Reducing Your Child’s Risk for Kresladi Side Effects or Interactions
Because Kresladi is a gene therapy given in a hospital setting, much of your child’s care and monitoring will happen under close medical supervision. This can help your child’s health care provider quickly identify and manage side effects as they arise.
You can still play an important role by staying informed and communicating openly with the care team. Pay attention to any new or changing symptoms during and after any hospital stays, and share any concerns right away. After discharge, continue attending all follow-up visits and lab appointments, as some side effects may appear later.
Always tell your child’s health care provider and pharmacist about all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, and any vitamins, herbs, or other supplements your child is using or has recently taken.
Working together with your child’s health care provider before, during, and after Kresladi treatment can help support your child’s safety and recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Kresladi cause long-term side effects?
Yes. Kresladi may increase your child’s risk of blood cancer. Their health care provider will likely monitor them for cancer at least every year for 15 years or longer after getting Kresladi. This monitoring may include health care visits, blood tests, or other tests. Tell your child’s health care provider about any new symptoms they have.
Can Kresladi affect lab test results?
Yes, Kresladi may affect the results of certain HIV tests. If these HIV tests are used after your child has received Kresladi, it may lead to a false positive result. A false positive happens when a test says you have a condition, such as HIV, when you actually do not have it.
Before any HIV testing, let your child’s health care team know that your child has received Kresladi. This will help them choose the best test and understand the results.