Accelerated infliximab infusions for inflammatory bowel disease improve effectiveness

AIM:To study the safety and effectiveness associated with accelerated infliximab infusion protocols in patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).METHODS:Original protocols and infusion rates were developed for the administration of infliximab over 90-min and 60-min.Then the IBD patients on stable maintenance infliximab therapy were offered accelerated infusions.To be eligible for the study,patients needed a minimum of four prior infusions.An initial infusion of 90-min was given to each patient;those tolerating the accelerated infusion were transitioned to a 60-min infusion protocol at their next and all subsequent visits.Any patient having significant infusion reactions would be reverted to the standard 120-min protocol.A change in a patient's dose mandated a single 120-min infusion before accelerated infusions could be administered again.RESULTS:The University of Virginia Medical Center's Institutional Review Board approved this study.Fifty IBD patients treated with infliximab 5mg/kg,7.5mg/kg and 10mg/kg were offered accelerated infusions.Forty-six patients consented to participate in the study.Nineteen(41.3%) were female,five(10.9%) were African American and nine(19.6%) had ulcerative colitis.The mean age was 42.6 years old.Patients under age 18 were excluded.Ten patients used immunosuppressive drugs concurrently out of which six were taking azathioprine,three were taking 6-mercaptopurine and one was taking methotrexate.One of the 46 study patients used corticosteroid therapy for his IBD.Seventeen of the patients used prophylactic medications prior to receiving infusions;six patients received corticosteroids as pre-medication.Four patients had a history of distant transfusion reactions to infliximab.These reactions included shortness of breath,chest tightness,flushing,pruritus and urticaria.These patients all took prophylactic medications before receiving infusions.46 patients(27 males and 19 females) received a total of fifty 90-min infusions and ninety-three 60-min infusions.No infusion reactions were reported.There were no adverse events,including drug-related infections.None of the patients developed cancer of any type during the study timeframe.Total cost savings for administration of the both 90-min and 60-min accelerated infusions compared to standard 120-min infusions was estimated to be $53 632($116 965 vs $63 333,P=0.001).One hundred and eighteen hours were saved in the administration of the accelerated infusions(17 160 min vs 10 080 min,P=0.001).In the study population,overweight females [body mass index(BMI)>25.00kg/m2] were found to have statistically higher BMIs than overweight males(mean BMI 35.07±2.66kg/m2 vs 30.08±0.99kg/m2,P=0.05),finding which is of significance since obesity was described as being one of the risk factors for Crohn's disease.CONCLUSION:We are the first US group to report substantial cost savings,increased safety and patient satisfaction associated with accelerated infliximab infusion.