BACKGROUND: Alemtuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody approved in several countries for treatment of @entity3780 ( @entity3780 ). This report summarizes the experience with infusion-associated reactions (IARs) in two phase 3 trials of alemtuzumab in @entity3780 and examines skilled nursing interventions in IAR prevention and management. METHODS: In the Comparison of Alemtuzumab and Rebif(  ) Efficacy in @entity15 (CARE-MS) studies, @entity1 with @entity3780 (treatment naive [CARE-MS I] or with inadequate response [defined as at least one relapse] to previous therapy [CARE-MS II]) received intravenous infusions of alemtuzumab 12 mg/day on 5 consecutive days at baseline and on 3 consecutive days 12 months later. @entity1 were monitored for IARs during and after each infusion. An IAR was defined as any adverse event occurring during any infusion or within 24 hours after infusion. RESULTS: The IARs affected 90.1% of @entity1 receiving alemtuzumab. The most common IARs were @entity10 , @entity1910 , @entity221 , @entity390 , and @entity1671 ; most were mild to moderate in severity. Management of IARs consisted of infusion interruption or rate reduction, pharmacologic therapies, and continual @entity1 education and support. Medication administration before and during alemtuzumab infusion reduced IAR severity. Forty-five of 972 alemtuzumab-treated @entity1 (4.6%) required interruption of the first treatment course (ie, infusions did not occur on consecutive days); of these, 24 (53.3%) were still able to complete the first and second full treatment courses. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses played an invaluable role in the detection and management of IARs in the CARE-MS studies. Best practices for management of IARs associated with alemtuzumab include @entity1 and caregiver education, medication to lessen IAR severity, infusion monitoring, and discharge planning.

Prevention and Management of Infusion-Associated Reactions in the Comparison of Alemtuzumab and Rebif(  ) Efficacy in XXXX (CARE-MS) Program.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients', 'patient'] @entity1671 :: ('MESH:D005483', 'Disease') :: ['flushing'] @entity390 :: ('MESH:D009325', 'Disease') :: ['nausea'] @entity1910 :: ('MESH:D005076', 'Disease') :: ['rash'] @entity3780 :: ('MESH:D020529', 'Disease') :: ['relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis', 'RRMS'] @entity221 :: ('MESH:D005334', 'Disease') :: ['pyrexia'] @entity10 :: ('MESH:D006261', 'Disease') :: ['headache'] @entity15 :: ('MESH:D009103', 'Disease') :: ['Multiple Sclerosis']
@entity15 :: (MESH:D009103,Disease) :: ['Multiple Sclerosis']
