This question is asked of us quite often. Some of our social media members attempt to quote someone else without any documentation. The question concerns infusion method temperature, specific for Cold Agglutinin Disease patients.
The question is, “Can Rituxan be infused through a fluid warming machine, at any elevated temperature up to 37°C? Infused Prewarmed to room temperature? Or infused chilled?”
Some have quoted the product “black box”, section 2.9 [See Source #1 Below] warning as gospel for CAD’s to explain things clearly. It doesn’t specifically state what happens in a case a CAD patient is severely temperature sensitive, to below body temperatures, which may cause excessive Hemolysis. Whether a cooler temperature infusion of the product is a hazard or not. Or what to do if your attending Hematologist or infusion center, or yourself has opinions it needs run through a warmer? Or what precautions may be necessary to avoid hemolysis.
Our Website and Social Media stance is the following. We will make every effort to delete such member content offering advice contrary to the below highlighted statement.
THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION NEEDS TO COME DIRECTLY FROM YOUR ATTENDING HEMATOLOGIST OR THE MANUFACTURE FULLY KNOWING YOUR HISTORY AND CONDITION.
Do not follow social media opinions, no matter how informed one appears to be.
Source #1
https://www.gene.com/download/pdf/rituxan_prescribing.pdf
Section 2.9
Please inform us if you ever find this documentation changes to be more specific.
