title: Shorter bevacizumab infusions do not increase the incidence of proteinuria and hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A previous study has shown that shorter bevacizumab infusions (0.5 mg/kg/min) can be safely administered without increasing the risk of infusion-related hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs). However, the risk of proteinuria and hypertension in patients receiving shorter infusions of bevacizumab is undetermined.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a multicenter, prospective, observational study in patients receiving <10 mg/kg of bevacizumab infused over 0.5 mg/kg/min. Patients were observed until discontinuation of bevacizumab for progression of cancer or toxicity. The incidence of hypertension and proteinuria was compared with a prior cohort of patients who had received standard duration infusions of bevacizumab.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-three patients received a total of 392 doses of shorter bevacizumab infusions. Nineteen (30.2%) patients experienced proteinuria while receiving bevacizumab. Out of 19 patients, 13 had grade 1 and 6 had grade 2 proteinuria. None of the patients experienced grade 3 or 4 proteinuria. Hypertension was reported in 32 (50.8%) patients receiving bevacizumab. Twelve (19%) patients developed grade 3 or greater hypertension on bevacizumab. The incidence of proteinuria and hypertension was 38.3% and 56.6%, respectively, in patients (N = 120, 1347 infusions) receiving standard duration infusions of bevacizumab.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shorter bevacizumab infusions (0.5 mg/kg/min) do not increase the risk of proteinuria and hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Practice Department, Texas Tech University HSC-School of Pharmacy/VA North Texas Health Care System. sachin.shah@ttuhsc.edu
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gressett Ussery
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dowell
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liticker
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arriaga
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Verma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab