Abstract
Nurses play an integral role in administering treatments to patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Intravenous (IV) rituximab was approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration in 1998, and a novel subcutaneous (SC) formulation was approved in 2014. Fixed-dose SC rituximab is highly concentrated; co-formulation with a fully human recombinant vorhyaluronidase alfa enzyme helps overcome the physiological barriers of the SC space, facilitating drug dispersion. Despite a different pharmacokinetic profile to the IV preparation, SC rituximab demonstrates a comparable efficacy/safety profile. Most frequently occurring rituximab-related adverse events include neutropenia, nausea and constipation, and administration-related reactions are more frequent with the SC preparation. Compared with IV, SC delivery reduces treatment times and nurse workload, and patients report greater comfort and convenience. This article sets out nursing considerations for optimal administration of SC rituximab, including premedication, drug handling/preparation, injection technique, after-care and management of adverse events, particularly administration-related reactions.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
