PURPOSE: 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. PATIENTS AND 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. CONCLUSION: 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.
PURPOSE: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. PATIENTS AND 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. CONCLUSION: 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: Bertrand Coiffier; Eric Lepage; Josette Briere; Raoul Herbrecht; Hervé Tilly; Reda Bouabdallah; Pierre Morel; Eric Van Den Neste; Gilles Salles; Philippe Gaulard; Felix Reyes; Pierre Lederlin; Christian Gisselbrecht Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2002-01-24 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Marinus H J van Oers; Richard Klasa; Robert E Marcus; Max Wolf; Eva Kimby; Randy D Gascoyne; Andrew Jack; Mars Van't Veer; Andrej Vranovsky; Harald Holte; Martine van Glabbeke; Ivana Teodorovic; Cynthia Rozewicz; Anton Hagenbeek Journal: Blood Date: 2006-07-27 Impact factor: 22.113
Authors: J C Byrd; T Murphy; R S Howard; M S Lucas; A Goodrich; K Park; M Pearson; J K Waselenko; G Ling; M R Grever; A J Grillo-Lopez; J Rosenberg; L Kunkel; I W Flinn Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2001-04-15 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: P Feugier; A Van Hoof; C Sebban; P Solal-Celigny; R Bouabdallah; C Fermé; B Christian; E Lepage; H Tilly; F Morschhauser; P Gaulard; G Salles; A Bosly; C Gisselbrecht; F Reyes; B Coiffier Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2005-05-02 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: P McLaughlin; A J Grillo-López; B K Link; R Levy; M S Czuczman; M E Williams; M R Heyman; I Bence-Bruckler; C A White; F Cabanillas; V Jain; A D Ho; J Lister; K Wey; D Shen; B K Dallaire Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 1998-08 Impact factor: 44.544