P.119 Home infusion for antisense oligonucleotide therapy

Abstract

Having a child with a chronic disease and adapting the child to receive a lifelong treatment which recquires hospitalization at regular intervals is difficult. In addition to financial and moral difficulties of frequent hospital admissions, it also increases the risk of infection. Here we emphasize the importance and advantages of home infusion treatment. We included twelve boys diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) who were being followed by our Pediatric Neurology Department. Nine of our boys have been enrolled from outside the city. After completion of eight weeks of treatment in our hospital every week for intravenous drug administration, consent form was obtained from the family for home infusion. When the boys switched to home therapy; they were reached out by specialist nurses every week, and the appropriate drug dose was administered intravenously. During the infusion vital signs were followed up and shared with physicians. There were no complications observed during the nine month period in boys who are still continuing their treatment at home. In conclusion, home treatment with an experienced team should definitely be considered among the treatment options as it provides convenience in many moral and financial ways which increases the quality of life of the child and the family who are struggling with a chronic disease. Our application denotes that home treatment can be realized in other chronic disorders, genetic or not.