title: Successful retreatment with infliximab in patients with prior severe infusion reactions.
abstract: Infusion of the antitumor necrosis factor-alpha chimeric monoclonal antibody infliximab can be associated with the development of severe infusion reactions (IR) during retreatment. We present the case of two rheumatoid arthritis patients with a history of severe acute IR to infliximab who subsequently underwent successful infusion using a prophylactic treatment with a combination of H1 and H2 receptor blockers, hydrocortisone, and diphenhydramine.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. iuthman@aub.edu.lb
authors.forename: Imad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Uthman
authors.forename: Zahi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Touma
authors.forename: Jinane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: El-Sayyad
authors.forename: Fares
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zaitoun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004155:Diphenhydramine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069285:Infliximab; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects; D019233:Retreatment / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D004155:Diphenhydramine; D000069285:Infliximab; D006854:Hydrocortisone