Sixty-minute infusion rituximab protocol allows for safe and efficient workflow

Abstract

Purpose

Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody approved to treat B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Infusion reactions among NHL patients are common during the first exposure but decrease with subsequent infusions. We sought to assess the safety and feasibility of a rituximab rapid infusion protocol in the outpatient treatment area of a comprehensive cancer center.

Patients and methods

Patients with indolent and intermediate B cell NHL were invited to enroll in this prospective, single-institution study if they had received the first dose of rituximab according to the manufacturer-labeled standard titration schedule without grade >2 infusion reaction. The subsequent infusion proceeded without the use of steroid premedication at 100 mg/h administered over 15 min, with the remaining dose given over 45 min. Time savings between rapid infusion and standard titration were calculated.

Results

Fifty patients received 60-min rituximab infusions during the second drug administration. No infusion-related reactions of any grade were observed with the rapid infusion protocol (0 %, one-sided 97.5 % CI 0–7.1 %). The mean time for the rapid rituximab infusion was 62.4 min (95 % CI 61.2–63.6). When compared to the standard second dose infusion recommendation, a mean time of 94.2 min (95 % 90–98.4) was saved with rapid infusion. Nursing surveys demonstrated 100 % satisfaction with the rapid infusion protocol.

Conclusions

Subsequent rituximab infusions can be safely administered over 60 min and without steroid premedication in an experienced outpatient infusion center when patients are appropriately screened. The faster infusions can reduce resource utilization and increase nursing satisfaction.

Trial Registration

NCT01206777

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