• Harry Crane, Nan Wu, Patrick Chan, Paul Nguyen, Astrid-Jane Williams, Watson Ng, and Susan J Connor.
• Department of Gastroenterology and Liver, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
• Intern Med J. 2022 Dec 1; 52 (12): 214321492143-2149.

BackgroundInfliximab remains a mainstay for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but a long infusion duration and subsequent monitoring can be burdensome to patients and healthcare providers.AimsTo assess the safety of accelerated infusions for standard and dose-intensified infliximab regimens, and the effect on patient satisfaction and potential cost savings.MethodsPatients with IBD on a stable maintenance dose of infliximab and in clinical remission received one or more accelerated infusions: over 30 min if receiving a standard dose (5 mg/kg), or over 60 min if receiving dose-intensified infliximab (up to 10 mg/kg). Outcomes included incidence of reactions (acute or delayed), patient satisfaction and potential cost savings. We also explored infliximab trough levels after one and three accelerated infusions.ResultsFifty-two patients who received 150 infusions were studied. Incidence of reactions to accelerated infusions was 3.3% (3 out of 89) with a standard dose and 0% (out of 61) with dose-intensified infliximab. Reactions were delayed, mild and self-limiting. None required drug cessation. Patient satisfaction was improved with shortened infusion time as compared with the patients' previous experiences (P = 0.00002). Mean plasma trough level of infliximab reduced from 9.3 mg/L (±4.9) to 7.9 mg/L (±4.1) (P = 0.02) with accelerated infusions, but none developed anti-infliximab antibodies. Nursing cost savings were estimated as $123.52 and $247.04 per patient per year for standard and dose-intensified infliximab respectively.ConclusionAccelerated infliximab infusions for standard and dose-intensified regimens seem to be safe and improved patient satisfaction. Potential impact on drug trough levels requires further investigations.© 2021 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

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