title: Rapid-infusion rituximab in lymphoma treatment: 2-year experience in a single institution.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rituximab is a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody. We aimed to explore the safety and tolerability of rapid infusion rituximab, (over 90 minutes) in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at Hacettepe University Department of Medical Oncology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult patients diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who were to receive rituximab were included in the study. The schedule of administration for cycle 1 was unaltered and delivered according to the product monograph. All subsequent cycles were administered over a total infusion time of 90 minutes (20% of the dose in the first 30 minutes, then the remaining 80% over 60 minutes, total dose delivered in 500 mL). All patients were observed for infusion-related reactions during the rituximab infusion, and vital signs were recorded every 15 minutes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From July 2006 to December 2008, 75 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated with rituximab-based chemotherapy. A total of 372 infusions were administered. The majority of patients were treated with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone, or rituximab only. The 90-minute rituximab infusion schedule was well tolerated, with no grade 3 or 4 infusion-related adverse events observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A rapid infusion rituximab over 90 minutes is well tolerated and safe when administered as the second and subsequent infusions in the course of therapy.
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sevcan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Atay
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barista
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gundogdu
authors.forename: Kiymet
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akgedik
authors.forename: Afey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arpaci