Infusion Reaction
An adverse reaction occurring during or shortly after intravenous drug infusion, ranging from mild flushing and fever to severe anaphylaxis. Infusion reactions are relevant to intravenously administered peptide drugs and can often be managed by slowing the infusion rate or pre-medicating patients.
Technical Context
Infusion reactions are classified by timing: immediate (during or within 1 hour — likely IgE-mediated or non-immune mast cell activation), delayed (1-24 hours — often cytokine-mediated or complement activation). Management: for mild reactions (flushing, chills, mild urticaria) — slow the infusion rate, administer antihistamines; for moderate reactions (significant urticaria, dyspnoea, hypotension responsive to fluids) — stop infusion, treat symptoms, consider restarting at slower rate with premedication; for severe reactions (anaphylaxis features) — stop infusion, treat as anaphylaxis. Premedication protocols (acetaminophen, antihistamines, corticosteroids) are used for drugs with known infusion reaction risk. Carfilzomib has notable infusion reaction risk (~15-20%) requiring premedication with dexamethasone and infusion rate management.