What is Inflammatory Arthritis?
Inflammatory arthritis is a group of diseases caused by an overactive immune system that attacks bodily tissue instead of foreign substances. Some common symptoms are stiffness, joint pain, and affected joints may also feel tender, swollen, and/or warm. Additionally, inflammatory arthritis can affect other areas of the body such as the lungs, heart, eyes, skin, and other organs.
There are several specific types of inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and gout.
How is Inflammatory Arthritis Diagnosed and Treated?
Your doctor will perform a physical examination, blood tests, and imaging exams, such as X-rays, joint ultrasounds, and/or MRI or CAT scans.
There are several treatment options for inflammatory arthritis depending on the type and severity of the condition. Some common treatment options are use of anti-inflammatory medications, steroid medications, surgery, and infusion of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
How Does IV Infusion Therapy for Inflammatory Arthritis Work?
IV infusion for inflammatory arthritis involves administering medication through an infusion pump that drips the medication into a catheter to a syringe and through a hollow needle into the patient’s bloodstream. The length and frequency of infusion will depend on the therapy.
Some therapies are administered via injection instead of infusion. This involves injecting patients with the biologic therapy in a particular site on the body, depending on the therapy.
Many inflammatory arthritis patients choose to get their IV infusion or injection treatment through a freestanding treatment center, such as IVX Health. Inflammatory arthritis patients often choose IVX Health as their preferred site of care because of its unique, patient-centered amenities, including private suites, its industry-leading 1:3 nurse-to-patient ratio, flexible appointment scheduling, and lower cost when compared to the hospital.
Inflammatory Arthritis Therapies Administered at IVX Health
Inflammatory Arthritis Management at IVX Health
Each IVX Health patient receives excellent care from Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs) and Registered Nurses (RNs).
The benefits of receiving infusion or injection treatments for Inflammatory Arthritis at IVX Health include:
- Private suites
- Comfortable, leather recliners
- Enough room and plenty of seating for guests
- A friendly clinical staff
- Personalized service
- High-speed internet
- Complimentary beverages and snacks
- Flat-screen television sets provide a way for patients to stream their favorite movies and watch the shows they love
- Flexible scheduling options (including evening and weekend appointments)
What to Expect During IV Infusion Treatment for Inflammatory Arthritis
Step One
Using a thin, very small catheter, one of IVX Health’s nurses creates the patient an intravenous line (aka IV line) into the patient’s arm vein.
*For Cimzia, a subcutaneous injection, one of IVX Health’s nurses will inject the patient with the treatment typically in the front of the thighs or the abdomen. No IV line will be used.
Step Two
After placing the IV line, the nurse connects it to tubing that leads up to the medication. The medication is then dispersed into the patient’s bloodstream over a specified period of time.
During treatment, patients are continuously monitored by one of IVX’s nurses. If a patient requires assistance, he or she just needs to press the call button.
There are times when a patient experiences a reaction to the medication he or she is receiving; therefore, patients need to recognize the symptoms associated with an allergic reaction.
Signs of a potential allergic reaction include developing a headache, feeling nauseous, difficulty breathing and developing a rash. Patients experiencing these symptoms need to contact their nurse right away.
How to Get a Referral for Inflammatory Arthritis Infusion or Injection Treatment
Every referral must be accompanied by an order for treatment.
Patient information should include:
- Name
- Current address
- Home and mobile phone number
- Insurance information
Information the physician must include on the patient’s order for IV infusion or injection therapy to treat inflammatory arthritis include:
- Patient’s name and DOB
- Order date
- Diagnosis
- Physician’s name and NPI#
- Office address, phone, and fax numbers
- Provider’s signature
Supporting clinical documentation from the physician will vary depending on the therapy used:
Ruxience, Rituxan, Truxima
- Patient’s current weight and height
- Hepatitis B status & date
- Most recent CBC results
- Patient has moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is currently taking methotrexate
Actemra
- Results of a recent tuberculosis (TB) skin/lab testing
- Clinicals to support one or more of the following:
- Patient has moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who has had an inadequate response to one or more disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
- Patient has giant cell arteritis (GCA)
- Patient has active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis
- Patient has active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Remicade, Inflectra, Renflexis, Avsola
- Result of Tuberculosis (TB) skin/ lab testing
- Hepatitis B status & date
- Patients current weight and height
- Clinicals to support one or more of the following:
- Patient has Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Patient has Psoriatic Arthritis
- Patient has Ankylosing Spondylitis
Orencia
- Patient’s current weight and height
- Clinicals to support one or more of the following:
- Patient has rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- Patient has juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)
- Patient has psoriatic arthritis
Simponi Aria
- Results of a recent tuberculosis (TB) skin/lab testing
- Patient’s current weight and height
- Clinicals to support one or more of the following:
- Patient has moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is taking methotrexate
- Patient has active psoriatic arthritis
- Patient has active ankylosing spondylitis
Cimzia
- Results of a recent tuberculosis (TB) skin/lab testing
- Patient’s current weight and height
- Clinicals to support one or more of the following:
- Patient has moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- Patient has active psoriatic arthritis
- Patient has active ankylosing spondylitis
Krystexxa
- Perform serum uric acid (sUA) test prior to each infusion
- Screen patients at risk for G6PD deficiency prior to starting therapy
- Patient had chronic gout and is an adult patient who have failed to normalize serum or has shown an inadequate response to conventional therapy
Due to the complexity of treatment, prior authorization is often required. Prior authorization is the process of getting approval for treatment from the patient’s healthcare provider before beginning treatment. It’s important to check in with your healthcare provider to see if a prior authorization will be needed for your infusion or injection treatment at IVX Health.
If you have inflammatory arthritis, and you would like to learn more about the IV infusion or injection therapy for inflammatory arthritis available at IVX Health centers, contact us today.
