N22 Nurse led therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of Infliximab in IBD

Abstract

Abstract Background Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is the clinical practice of measuring serum drug concentrations to guide clinical decision making. Achieving therapeutic drug concentrations has been associated with clinical, endoscopic and histological outcomes in IBD. The use of TDM offers a more personalised treatment approach and is associated with sustained clinical remission. Proactive TDM was introduced to the Mercy University Hospital in 2014 for all patients on biologics. Methods One hundred patients receiving biologic infusion (Infliximab) were evaluated post induction (week 12) for therapeutic drug trough concentration and for clinical response. Serum samples were taken from all IBD patients at week 12. Biologic response assessment forms were complete for all patients to assess symptom improvement. Results Thirty-five per cent of patients had sub therapeutic trough levels at week 12. They subsequently received 3 increased doses of 10mgs/kg and levels were rechecked. Of these 90% achieved therapeutic levels after the dose escalation. 65% of patients had therapeutic levels at week 12. There was a correlation between therapeutic trough levels and patient reported improvement of clinical symptoms in 85% of respondents. Conclusion TDM in our unit facilitates appropriate dose 100 patients receiving biologic infusion (Infliximab) were evaluated post induction (week 12) for therapeutic drug trough concentration and for clinical response. Serum samples were taken from all IBD patients at week 12. Biologic response assessment forms were complete for all patients to assess symptom improvement.