May 4, 2023
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Pam Carter
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Case study highlights Advanced Infusion Care and AIS Healthcare’s commitment to patients and quality of care
Dallas, TX – Advanced Infusion Care (AIC), a division of AIS Healthcare, today announced a recent feature in the National Home Infusion Association’s (NHIA) Infusion Journal. The case study in NHIJ, coauthored by Amy Mulgrew (RN, CRNI, IgCN, VA-BC), Erin Mullis (RN, IgCN), and Ashley McKenna (RN, IgCN) details the experience of an AIC patient diagnosed with chronic variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and underscores the importance of considering patient preference when choosing the optimal immune globulin (Ig) therapy approach.
“Patients living with primary immunodeficiency (PI) deserve individualized treatment options that maximize patient health and quality of life. Our case study highlighted in the NHIJ is a prime example of prioritizing patient-specific needs while also heeding patient choice,” said Amy Mulgrew, National Manager of Clinical Education at Advanced Infusion Care.
For patients with PI and CVID, rare genetic disorders that impair the immune system, Ig is a lifelong therapy that enables patients to fight infections, stay healthy, and receive care in the comfort of their own homes. In the case study, the AIC patient began intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy and transitioned to subcutaneous immune globulin (SCIg) therapy before transitioning back to IVIg for quality-of-life reasons and personal preferences.
Both IVIg and SCIg are clinically proven effective treatments for PI, and they each offer certain advantages and disadvantages. That is why it is important to assess the patient’s unique circumstances to help guide decisions for intravenous or subcutaneous treatment. Ig therapy must be individualized to meet each patient’s specific clinical needs as well as their personal preferences.
The AIC patient cited in the case study underwent treatment from 2015-2020, with monthly IVIg infusions generally well tolerated. The patient experienced mild to moderate adverse drug reactions (ADRs), described as fatigue and lethargy, and then in 2020 requested a transition to SCIg to determine if that route of administration could effectively treat his CVID without the ADRs experienced using IVIg. In late 2021, the patient noted numerous ADRs from his weekly SCIg infusions and stated he felt better on the monthly infusion of IVIg.
Since transitioning back from SCIg to IVIg, the patient remained stable and has had no reported ADRs. AIC nurses have visited him and noted that the patient’s quality of life has improved. In this instance, AIC was able to accommodate the patient’s preference and that helped lead to improved patient satisfaction.
“Clinicians and care providers can better serve patients if Ig care is individualized. This patient case study highlights the importance of recognizing patient preference when choosing the route of administration for Ig therapy,” added Mulgrew.
The Infusion Journal is a peer reviewed, scholarly publication that features independent original research and studies on the effects of infusion therapies related to patient outcomes, medication safety, economic analyses, drug stability studies, case studies, and evaluations of innovative clinical services.
The full AIC case study in the Infusion Journal is available here.
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