Emerging therapies for autoimmune disorders

Several monoclonal antibodies and other biologic drugs are used to treat a variety of common autoimmune disorders that are progressive in nature or resistant to standard therapies. Although monoclonal antibodies were recently removed from the hazardous drugs list, most of these drugs are considered high-risk substances that require specialized knowledge regarding care before, during, and after administration. Yet no national standards exist for nurses working with autoimmune patients, nor have minimum nursing practice competency guidelines been identified. Expert practitioners must continue to educate other health care professionals about the drugs, their intended and off-label uses, their potential side effects, and proactive measures that need to be taken to ensure patient safety during the entire drug administration process.