Infusion Therapy for Kidney Conditions

At Heartland Infusion Pharmacy, we provide IV therapy for various types of kidney disease and the associated anemia and inflammation that often accompanies them, as well as IV infusions to prevent transplant rejection. Infusion therapy for certain chronic kidney conditions can help reduce inflammation, pain, the need for dialysis and possibly even transplant.

Healthy kidneys filter and eliminate waste from the blood, including the toxic byproducts
of digestion, medications and chemicals to which we are exposed. When these items
are filtered from the blood, they are removed from the body via urination. Kidneys also
produce hormones that stimulate the production of red blood cells, regulate your blood
pressure and control the metabolism of calcium.

Kidney disease occurs when one or more of these functions slows or ceases, which can
happen because of injury, inadequate blood flow, severe dehydration, pregnancy
complications, sepsis, enlarged prostate, urine backup and certain autoimmune
disorders. Symptoms of improperly functioning kidneys may include weakness,
shortness of breath, nausea, swollen ankles and difficulty sleeping. Left untreated,
kidney disease can lead to renal failure and death.

Although there are no infusion therapy medications that have been developed
specifically for chronic kidney disease, there are many currently in use that are
successful in reducing the anemia that often occurs with late-stage kidney disease, high
potassium levels, water retention, high blood pressure, glomerulonephritis and more.
One effective, often-prescribed IV therapy medication is Rituximab. This infused drug is
approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat rheumatoid arthritis and
Hodgkin’s lymphoma as well as chronic kidney disease. It reduces the number of white
blood cells called B lymphocytes, which are responsible for creating antibodies that
cause kidneys to malfunction. This reduction can last between six and nine months per
IV infusion. Rituximab, however, can take several weeks following infusion therapy to
become effective, and often physicians will monitor antibody levels using blood and
urine sample testing.

Some patients report that side effects of Rituximab IV therapy can include fever, chills,
tremors, shortness of breath, rash and low blood pressure. Less common side effects
include headaches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness, muscle spasms and
abnormal heart rate. However, anecdotal reports are that the IV infused medication’s
side effects can be much less debilitating than the symptoms of kidney disease itself.
Lower doses of the medication per infusion session can also reduce the medication’s
side effects.

At Heartland Infusion Pharmacy, we provide infusion therapy both for patients with
chronic conditions and those seeking IV therapy for overall health and wellness. Our
team is professional, compassionate and very knowledgeable and our centers are
comfortable, convenient and hospital-grade hygienic.

If you’re interested in infusion therapy for kidney disease, another chronic condition or
general wellness, please reach out. We can answer many questions with just a phone
call and can also help you navigate the physician referral process, health insurance
matters and more.