Proactively address issues that may affect treatment adherence in the long-term
Infusion appointments
It’s not unusual for MPS VI patients on ERT to have difficulty making infusion appointments. Work and school obligations can interfere, as can frequent illness or hospitalization. Anxiety about painful IV insertion or transportation and other problems may arise.
What you can do:
- Be as flexible as possible in scheduling or rescheduling appointments
- Address pain control, reduction of anxiety at the initiation of therapy
- Consider use of topical anesthetics to reduce the pain of IV insertion
- Warm the limb
- Advise patients, parents of the importance of good hydration
- Send parents and patients to a child-life specialist prior to and during infusion therapy
- Consider longer-term options
- Surgically implanted access devices are common in ERT patients
- Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC lines) may also be used
For patients with transportation issues, especially those living in rural areas, it is recommended that you contact BioMarin Patient and Physician Support (BPPS) or your Clinical Sales Specialist (CSS). They can also assist with other issues that you or your patient may be having.
Next: Exploring home infusions