Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.
Rasburicase is a manufactured form of urate oxidase, an enzyme humans do not make, which turns uric acid into allantoin, a substance the kidneys clear easily. It is given by drip to prevent or treat the sudden rise in uric acid when chemotherapy breaks down large numbers of cancer cells (tumour lysis syndrome). It is sold as Elitek and Fasturtec.
When rasburicase breaks down uric acid it releases hydrogen peroxide. In people with G6PD deficiency, whose red blood cells cannot handle that oxidative stress, it can cause severe haemolysis and methaemoglobinaemia. G6PD deficiency is common in people of African, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and South Asian ancestry and more frequent in men. CPIC has published a guideline on G6PD that covers rasburicase, and the US label calls for G6PD screening in people at higher risk before it is given.
Clinical guidelines that name a gene for Elitek. They sort people into groups by the gene copies they carry.
US FDA: G6PD. Deficient with CNSHA · Variable · Deficient. 2019.
Every published finding on gene variants and Elitek. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.
PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.
G6PD G6PD A- 202A_376G, G6PD B (reference), G6PD Mediterranean, Dallas, Panama, Sassari, Cagliari, Birmingham: Level 1A · replicated. Toxicity: Hemolysis, Methemoglobinemia. 21.
Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.
More drugs from the same category
Krystexxa (Urate-Lowering Agents)
Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.
Content updated September 2026.
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