title: Nursing care of patients receiving high-dose, continuous-infusion interleukin-2 with pulse dose and famotidine.
abstract: High-dose, continuous-infusion interleukin-2 (IL-2) followed by pulse dose and concurrent administration of famotidine has demonstrated response rates of 64% and 33% in patients with metastatic melanoma and metastatic renal cell carcinoma, respectively. Currently, no information is available concerning the nursing care of patients receiving that IL-2 regimen. Given the high response rates of patients on the treatment, attention by the nursing profession is warranted. Effective nursing care of patients receiving IL-2 is essential to the regimen's success. Recognition and prompt treatment of common side effects lead to better patient outcomes. This article provides nurses with an overview of the treatment regimen, expected side effects, psycho-social considerations, and discharge instructions for patients receiving continuous-infusion plus pulse IL-2 and famotidine.
authors.affiliation: Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Greenville, NC, USA. charley.tyre@uhseast.com
authors.forename: Charley Cowan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tyre
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Quan
mesh_terms: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing / Q000473:pathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D015738:Famotidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing / Q000473:pathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015738:Famotidine