title: Evaluation of the safety and feasibility of rapid rituximab infusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess safety of rapid infusion by measuring infusion-related side effects and toxicities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants received the first rituximab infusion according to the manufacturers' recommendations. If well-tolerated, they then received the second and subsequent infusions at a rate of 20% of the dose over the first 30 min and the remaining 80% over the next hour. Premedication was administered for all the infusions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 243 infusions in 65 consecutive participants were evaluated. Six experienced a grade 1 reaction and one a grade 3 transfusion-related adverse event. Three of these participants were withdrawn from the rapid infusion study. The other four participants (grade 1 only participants) were re-challenged. The same premedication was used as in the first rapid infusion. On experiencing a grade 1 reaction, promethazine 12.5 mg i.v. was administered and infusion recommenced at 50% of the previous rate upon the resolution of symptoms. Three patients developed a grade 1 adverse event and one patient experienced no adverse reaction. The three patients who did not tolerate the second rapid infusion were withdrawn from this study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A rituximab infusion over 90-min was safe and feasible for participants who seek treatment at ambulatory cancer centre. The new regimen has been adopted as a standard practice with better resource utilization.
authors.affiliation: The Joanna Briggs Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. siew.lang@adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Janette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prouse
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catherwood
authors.forename: Kylie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chaplin
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: McGahey
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nilsen
authors.forename: Nimit
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singhal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D012449:Safety; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab