title: Variation in infliximab administration practices in the treatment of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Infliximab is used increasingly to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Infliximab is supplied in 100-mg vials. Doses that are typically calculated as 5 mg · kg⁻¹ · dose⁻¹ are commonly rounded up or down to the nearest 100 mg. Variation in dosing practices is unknown. Underdosing based on weight may increase the risk for disease exacerbation, whereas overimmune suppression could increase the risk of infection. Children may be at greater risk from dosage rounding. We aimed to characterize infliximab dosing practices, the use of corticosteroid premedication, and duration of infusions among pediatric practitioners participating in the ImproveCareNow Network, a national collaboration to improve IBD care and outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national survey of infliximab dosing practices was sent to 279 pediatric IBD practitioners from March to December 2011. Double data reconciliation, t test, and χ² analyses were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 74% (N = 207). Thirty-eight percent (78/207) indicated that their practice has no uniform approach to the rounding of doses. Of 114 respondents indicating a uniform approach to rounding doses, 43% always round up to the nearest 100 mg, 33% always round up or down to the nearest 100 mg, and 14% never round doses. In addition, 28% of respondents always premedicate with corticosteroids and 12% never premedicate. Of respondents indicating "it depends," 95% premedicate if there has been a previous infusion reaction, 46% if there has been a prolonged lapse between treatment doses, 40% if antibodies to infliximab are present, and 11% if giving infliximab monotherapy. The duration of infusions is most often 2 hours, but varies between 1 and 4 hours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wide variation exists in the practice of infliximab administration in pediatric IBD. The effect of these variations on outcomes is unknown.
authors: Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. jeradler@umich.edu
authors: Jeremy
authors: J
authors: Adler
authors: Kelly C
authors: KC
authors: Sandberg
authors: Benjamin H
authors: BH
authors: Shpeen
authors: Sally J
authors: SJ
authors: Eder
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Dhanani
authors: Sarah J
authors: SJ
authors: Clark
authors: Gary L
authors: GL
authors: Freed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D054796:Drug Dosage Calculations; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000069285:Infliximab; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008131:London; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011292:Premedication; D014481:United States; D014837:Voluntary Health Agencies
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069285:Infliximab