Infusion Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that affects the joints, skin, and blood vessels. When it affects the lining of the joints, it results in swelling and chronic pain. The illness can erode joint cartilage — sometimes causing deformity. In addition to painful, swollen joints, other symptoms may include fatigue, stiffness, and loss of appetite.

How can infusion therapy work for rheumatoid arthritis?

Sometimes, patients with moderate to severe RA have a difficult time taking oral medications — or they simply aren’t working. When this occurs, your doctor may prescribe infusion therapy of intravenous medications, such as REMICADE, ORENCIA® (abatacept), Actemra, Cimzia, or Rixutan. Doing so delivers the medication directly into your bloodstream.

Outcomes from RA treatment include:

Providing relief from swelling, pain, and stiffness

Preventing additional joint damage

Slowing down the progression of bone damage

Reducing fatigue

Undergoing infusion therapy for rheumatoid arthritis can provide relief from symptoms anywhere between six months to a year. The length of each infusion session depends on the severity of the illness, as well as the type of medication being administered.

Infusion Therapy Treatment for Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic skin and nail disease that causes red, scaly rashes and thick, pitted fingernails. Some people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis.

How Infusion Therapy for Psoriasis Works

Modern infusion medications are more targeted than conventional medicines. This offers greater treatment precision which can lead to fewer secondary complications.

Some of the common infusion therapy medications for psoriasis include:

Enbrel, Remicade, Stelara, Orencia.

Talk to your doctor about any of the medications listed above, especially if you are already taking other medications.

Infusion Therapy for Crohn’s Disease

Crohn's disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease, is caused by inflammation in the intestines.

Crohn's disease commonly affects the small intestine, but can also affect the large intestine or both. The root cause of Crohn's disease is due to an underlying issue with the immune system.

How IV Therapy Works for Crohn’s Disease

Intravenous (IV) therapy delivers medication directly into your bloodstream. This decreases inflammation of the bowels, as well as alleviates Crohn’s disease symptoms. It’s typically prescribed for patients with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease who haven’t obtained results from oral medications.

A benefit of IV therapy for Crohn’s disease is that — in addition to reducing symptoms — it may also keep the condition in remission. 

Infusion Therapy Treatment for Lupus

Sometimes the body’s immune system can become hyperactive and attack normal, healthy tissue. This is known as an autoimmune disease. Lupus is an autoimmune disorder. It can cause skin rashes and swelling, as well as infections and other complications, and can involve joints, kidneys, skin, blood vessels, and more.

Lupus Infusion Medications

Lupus is treated using a biological medication. There are many medications specifically for lupus, so it’s important to talk to your doctor about which treatment option may be best for you. Your medical history will also play a factor in which medications are right for you. The most common medications for lupus include:

RITUXAN® (rituximab)

BENLYSTA (belimumab)

Infusion therapy for Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer disease is a type of neurologic disorder that usually affects those over 65 years old. Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes difficulty remembering recent and past events, processing, understanding language, and learning new information.

Alzheimer’s disease is not curable at this time. However, researchers have developed several treatments that may help slow associated cognitive impairment, including the effect on memory. In 2021, the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new medication that is for Alzheimer’s disease that is administered by intravenous infusion. This treatment is thought to be effective in eliminating the amyloid plaques in the brain.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, your doctor will determine whether this infusion treatment might be of benefit. It is not recommended for all patients, and specific criteria must be met.

Managing complex conditions with compassionate care

Our experienced infusion specialty care teams work to develop an individualized care plan alongside on-going clinical monitoring to manage complex conditions with a high level of detail and commitment.

Treating Immunodeficiency with IVIG Therapy

If you suffer from primary immunodeficiency disease or continue to experience symptoms of infection after receiving conventional treatment, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy may be the right treatment for restoring a healthy immune response.

Whether you need IVIG depends on several factors. It’s important to know why your immune system isn’t functioning as it should and address the underlying causes. Sometimes, IVIG can be useful in some situations to provide the immune system with a boost.

Rare conditions we treat include: 

Von Willebrand disease, Myasthenia gravis, Guillain-barré syndrome, Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency, Neuropathic Heredofamilial Amyloidosis, Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and more.