A 30-minute intravenous infusion of rituximab is safe and cost-effective (SpeedR).

Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody used in the treatment of B-cell malignancies. Infusion reactions are common during the first exposure but decrease with subsequent infusions. We here present our experience with a protocol for a 30-minute intravenous infusion of rituximab (SpeedR) to patients who have previously tolerated a 90-minute rituximab infusion. All patients were premedicated with 10 mg cetirizine and 1 g paracetamol (steroids were only given when part of a concomitant chemotherapy regimen). In this cohort 268 patients received a total of 940 intravenous 30-minute infusions with only nine patients having adverse reactions (all grade 1-2) which required little or no treatment. Out of the nine patients with reactions, seven were planned for more rituximab treatment and all of them could later continue with 30-minute rituximab infusions. We conclude that 30-minute rituximab infusions are a safe and efficient way to optimize workflow in the outpatient clinic and to give cost-effective treatment to lymphoma patients.