Extract

The incidence and management of infusion reactions to infliximab: a large center experience. Cheifetz A, Smedley M., Martin S, Reiter M, Leone G, Mayer L, Plevy S. Am J Gastroenterol. 2003;98:1315–1324.

A total of 165 consecutive patients with Crohn's disease who received 479 infliximab infusions at one large academic infusion center were evaluated in this retrospective study for incidence of infusion reactions and outcomes of specific treatment protocols. Infusion reactions were classified according to type and severity. The two types of infusion reactions were characterized as acute or delayed. Acute infusion reactions were defined as reactions occurring at the time of the infusion and up to 24 hours later. Delayed infusion reactions were defined as reactions occurring after 24 hours. In addition, infusion reactions were classified as mild, moderate or severe. The severity of the infusion reaction was based upon physician assessment of patient's vital signs and symptoms.

One-hundred fifteen patients were infused for active inflammatory Crohn's disease without fistula and 50 patients were infused for enterocutaneous fistulas. Overall, infusion reactions occurred in 6.1% (29 of 479) of infusions or 9.7% (16 of 165) of patients. Acute infusion reactions occurred in 5.4% (26 of 479) of infusions or 8.4% (14 of 165) of patients.

You do not currently have access to this article.