Practical Guidelines for Administering Natalizumab: A Nursing Perspective

Natalizumab (Tysabri) was recently reapproved in the United States and the European Union for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Natalizumab is administered once every 4 weeks as a 300-mg intravenous infusion given over 1 hour, followed by 1 hour of monitoring. Guidelines for preparing and administering natalizumab infusions are reviewed. In addition, patient monitoring parameters and guidelines for identification and management of infusion-related reactions are discussed. Natalizumab may be administered in various settings, including the hospital, physician's office, and infusion center. Special considerations for these settings are also discussed. Currently, home care is not a consideration for natalizumab infusion.