Rapid infusion of rituximab with or without steroid-containing chemotherapy: 1-yr experience in a single institution.
We assessed the feasibility of a rapid infusion of rituximab with or without steroid-containing chemotherapy.


METHODS
previous infusion of rituximab without grade 3 or 4 toxicity, lymphoid cells <5 x 10(9)/L and rituximab dose of 375 mg/m(2). Seventy patients were treated with a total of 319 rapid rituximab infusions [126 (40%) with and 193 (60%) without steroids]. Overall, rapid infusion of rituximab was well tolerated - there were no grade 3 or 4 adverse events. Only, three patients developed symptoms, all grade 1. In conclusion, rituximab administration in a 90-min infusion schedule is well tolerated and safe, both in patients who are administered steroids and in patients who are not.
Salar
Antonio
A
Department of Clinical Hematology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain. asalar@imas.imim.es
Casao
Dolors
D
Cervera
Marta
M
Pedro
Carmen
C
Calafell
Montserrat
M
Abella
Eugenia
E
Alvarez-Larrán
Alberto
A
Besses
Carlos
C
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069283:Rituximab
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab