NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Adverse drug events (ADE) were rare – and serious ADEs nonexistent – in a retrospective two-year study of nearly 1,900 home and alternate treatment site (ATS) infusions of infliximab for patients with autoimmune disorders.1 The research was presented today by Option Care, a leading provider of home and ATS infusion services, at the National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) Annual Conference & Exposition.

“Our findings add to the growing body of evidence that home infusion administered by a high quality provider is safe and effective,” said Kendra Curry, PharmD, corporate director of Option Care Specialty Infusion Programs. “Patients prefer to receive their infusions in the comfort of their home and Option Care is dedicated to delivering exceptional care and comprehensive support, which improves clinical outcomes and is significantly more cost effective.”

The study included 291 Option Care patients who received 1,866 infusions of infliximab, an immune system suppressant used to treat a variety of autoimmune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease.

None of the infusions were associated with a severe ADE
13 (0.7 percent) of the infusions were associated with a moderate ADE, such as fever or hives
65 (3.48 percent) of the infusions were associated with a mild ADE, such as nausea or headache
4.2 percent overall rate of ADE
Consistent with the range for ADE rates reported in published infliximab infusion studies of patients treated in various settings, including the home, ATS, hospital and medical office2-4
All patients included in the Option Care study were managed at home or the ATS during their infliximab infusions.
The study included (adult and pediatric) infliximab infusions occurring between May 1, 2012 and May 31, 2014:

1,441 (77.2 percent) occurred in the home
410 (22 percent) at an ATS such as freestanding infusion clinic
15 (fewer than 1.0 percent) occurred in an unspecified location (either home or ATS).
Option Care’s specially trained registered nurses and pharmacists provide high-quality, high-touch clinical support to patients treated for complex conditions such as autoimmune disorders. The Option Care nurse stays with and observes the patient throughout every infliximab infusion, monitoring the patient’s vital signs (e.g. pulse and blood pressure) and for any signs and/or symptoms of an infusion-related or hypersensitivity reaction.

“Our patients benefit from the personalized, high-touch care provided by our extensively trained registered nurses who follow research-based best practices and protocols backed by years of experience,” said Brenda Wright, vice president of Clinical Services for Option Care. “In the rare case a patient begins to have a reaction, the nurse can swiftly and proactively manage the issue and prevent it from developing into a serious adverse event.”

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