Does Cyramza (ramucirumab) require a urinalysis (U.A) prior to administration?

Medical Advisory BoardAll articles are reviewed for accuracy by our Medical Advisory Board
Educational purpose only • Exercise caution as content is pending human review
Article Review Status
Submitted
Under Review
Approved

Last updated: December 26, 2025View editorial policy

Personalize

Help us tailor your experience

Which best describes you? Your choice helps us use language that's most understandable for you.

Cyramza (Ramucirumab) Monitoring Requirements

Cyramza requires monitoring for proteinuria by urine dipstick and/or urinary protein creatinine ratio prior to and during administration, but a complete urinalysis (U.A.) is not specifically mandated as a routine pre-administration requirement. 1

Required Monitoring for Proteinuria

The FDA label explicitly requires proteinuria monitoring using either urine dipstick or urinary protein creatinine ratio. 1 This is distinct from a complete urinalysis, which includes microscopic examination and other parameters not specifically required for ramucirumab administration.

Specific Monitoring Protocol

  • Monitor proteinuria by urine dipstick and/or urinary protein creatinine ratio before each dose of Cyramza 1
  • If the urine dipstick result is 2+ or greater, perform a 24-hour urine collection for protein measurement 1
  • Withhold Cyramza if urine protein levels are 2 or more grams over 24 hours 1
  • Permanently discontinue Cyramza if urine protein levels exceed 3 grams over 24 hours or in the setting of nephrotic syndrome 1

Clinical Context

The incidence of proteinuria with Cyramza across six clinical studies in 2,137 patients ranged from 3-34% for all grades, with Grade ≥3 proteinuria (including 4 patients with nephrotic syndrome) ranging from <1-3%. 1

Important Distinction

Routine urinalysis with microscopic examination is not necessary for Cyramza administration, unlike the monitoring required for immune checkpoint inhibitors where routine urinalysis is not necessary except to rule out UTIs or evaluate suspected renal immune-related adverse events. 2 The specific requirement for Cyramza is focused proteinuria monitoring, not comprehensive urinalysis.

Practical Implementation

  • Use urine dipstick testing as the initial screening method before each infusion 1
  • Alternatively, use urinary protein creatinine ratio if preferred by your institution 1
  • Reserve 24-hour urine collection for cases where dipstick shows 2+ or greater proteinuria 1

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Related Questions

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

Have a follow-up question?

Our Medical A.I. is used by practicing medical doctors at top research institutions around the world. Ask any follow up question and get world-class guideline-backed answers instantly.