title: Severe infusion-related reactions are uncommon in rituximab-treated CLL patients in clinical practice: results from a Swedish national observational study.
abstract: There have been concerns about serious infusion-related adverse drug reactions (ADR) with rituximab in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). We therefore conducted an observational trial in which CLL patients planned for rituximab-containing therapy were eligible. Ninety-six patients from 19 centers were enrolled. The most common regimen was rituximab, fludarabine and cyclophosphamide. Fifty-six patients experienced ADR during rituximab infusion. Reactions ≥ grade 3 occurred in five patients and no cases of tumor lysis syndrome were recorded. Despite a high number of circulating tumor cells few severe ADR were noted. Thus, rituximab-containing regimens can be considered safe for CLL patients in general practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: stefan.norin@karolinska.se.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Norin
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Björkstrand
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Linköping University Hospital, Garnisonsvägen 10, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rommel
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kristianstad Central Hospital, SE-291 85 Kristianstad, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Timberg
authors.affiliation: Section of Hematology and Coagulation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 413 45 Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Per-Ola
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kalmar Hospital, SE-391 85 Kalmar, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Häggström
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Visby Hospital, S:t Göransgatan 5, SE-621 84 Visby, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aldrin
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lotta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hansson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; C024352:fludarabine; D000069283:Rituximab; D014740:Vidarabine
keywords: Adverse reaction; Chronic lymphocytic leukemia; Rituximab; Therapy