Fast but not furious: Rapid ocrelizumab infusion as a strategy to optimize multiple sclerosis patients' management.

Multiple sclerosis clinicians are continuously challenged to be innovative in delivering therapies and there is ongoing pressure to maximize day-hospital vacancies. We describe our single-center experience with ocrelizumab (OCR) rapid infusion (OCR-RI) in patients with MS (pwMS). For pwMS with prior exposure to OCR standard infusion (OCR-SI) for at least one year/two cycles, infusion time was reduced from 3.5 to 2.0 h. A comparative analysis between OCR-RI vs OCR-SI patients was conducted. 283 (76.7%) out of 369 OCR-treated pwMS performed OCR-RI; 86 subjects did not start OCR-RI due to infusion-related reactions (IRR) occurring with OCR-SI (n = 13) or OCR-treatment duration shorter than one year (n = 73). Disease duration was longer in OCR-RI (p < 0.001). Median numbers of overall-OCR and OCR-RI cycles were 7 (IQR = 5-8) and 4 (IQR = 2-5) (p < 0.001). Overall, 38 (10.3%) IRR were reported, 25 (8.8%) in OCR-RI and 13 (15.1%) in OCR-SI group. IRR frequency did not differ between the two groups (p = 0.106). IRR included throat irritation, rash, hypotension, fever and gastrointestinal symptoms. IRR severity was mild (81.6%) or moderate (18.4%), all resolved and did not differ in distribution between the two groups. When IRR occurred, infusions were temporarily stopped, hydration and/or symptomatic medications were given and infusions were subsequently resumed at standard velocity. OCR-RI was not a risk factor for IRR (OR 0.55, 95% CI: 0.27-1.13, p = 0.096). In our cohort, IRR frequency, severity and management were comparable to literature. No severe IRR were observed. RI protocols represent a strategy to optimize patients' management in the clinic.

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Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Declaration of competing interest The authors do not have any conflicts of interest in relation to the work described in the manuscript. Potential conflicts of interest outside the submitted work are the following: C. Zanetta has nothing to disclose; P. Faustino has nothing to disclose; S. Guerrieri has nothing to disclose; A. Nozzolillo has nothing to disclose; A. Genchi has nothing to disclose; C. Bucca Has nothing to disclose; M. A. Rocca received consulting fees from Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Roche; and speaker honoraria from AstraZaneca, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Bromatech, Celgene, Genzyme, Horizon Therapeutics Italy, Merck Serono SpA, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi and Teva. She receives research support from the MS Society of Canada, the Italian Ministry of Health, the Italian Ministry of University and Research, and Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla. She is Associate Editor for Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders; L. Moiola received compensation for speaking activities, and/or consulting services from Merck, Biogen, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, and TEVA; M. Filippi is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Neurology, Associate Editor of Human Brain Mapping, Neurological Sciences, and Radiology; received compensation for consulting services from Alexion, Almirall, Biogen, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi; speaking activities from Bayer, Biogen, Celgene, Chiesi Italia SpA, Eli Lilly, Genzyme, Janssen, Merck-Serono, Neopharmed Gentili, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Roche, Sanofi, Takeda, and TEVA; participation in Advisory Boards for Alexion, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, Sanofi-Aventis, Sanofi-Genzyme, Takeda; scientific direction of educational events for Biogen, Merck, Roche, Celgene, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Lilly, Novartis, Sanofi-Genzyme; he receives research support from Biogen Idec, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Roche, the Italian Ministry of Health, the Italian Ministry of University and Research, and Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla.