Immunoglobulin Therapy Overview

Immunoglobulins are special proteins in the blood that fight infections. Some of our white blood cells make them. They are also known as antibodies. Antibodies are important for the immune system. In immunoglobulin therapy (IVIg), extra immunoglobulins from a donor are injected into your blood.

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Prior to Procedure

No special instructions are given prior to the procedure. Before the solution is given, it is closely screened for any viruses, diseases, or infections.

Description of the Procedure

Concentrated immunoglobulin antibodies will be collected from a healthy individual. These antibodies are added to a sterile solution.

An IV needle will be inserted into a vein in your arm. The combined solution will be delivered from a hanging bag through the IV to your vein.

How Long Will It Take?

About 5-6 hours

Will It Hurt?

The procedure is not painful. There may be some minor discomfort as the IV is inserted into the skin.

Post-procedure Care

The site where the IV was put in may become irritated. You should check with your doctor if this happens.

You may begin to see an improvement in your original symptoms as soon as 24-48 hours following the procedure. For some, it may be 3-4 weeks before an improvement is seen.

Immunoglobulin therapy is usually done in cycles. For an infection or other immune system deficiency, therapy is usually recommended every 3-4 weeks. If you have a neurological or autoimmune disease, therapy is administered for five days a month for 3-6 months. Following the initial therapy, maintenance therapy is administered every 3-4 weeks.

RESOURCES:

National Library of Medicine
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

British Columbia Ministry of Health
http://bchealthguide.org/

Canadian AIDS Society
http://www.cdnaids.ca/

References:

Adverse effects of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology website. Available at: http://www.aaaai.org/aadmc/currentliterature/selectedarticles/2003archive/intravenous_immunoglobulin.html . Accessed May 27, 2007.

Darabi, K, Abdel-Wahab, O, Dzik, WH. Current usage of intravenous immune globulin and the rationale behind it: the Massachusetts General Hospital data and a review of the literature. Transfusion. 2006; 46:741.

Emerson GG, Herndon CN, Sreih AG. Pharmacotherapy. 2002;22(12):1638-1641.

Nydegger UE. Safety and side effects of IV immunoglobulin therapy. Clin Exp Rheum. 1996;14(suppl 15):S53-7.

Orange, JS, Hossny, EM, Weiler, CR, et al. Use of intravenous immunoglobulin in human disease: A review of evidence by members of the Primary Immunodeficiency Committee of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006; 117:S525.

Sherer Y, Levy Y, Shoenfeld Y. Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy of antiphospholipid syndrome. Rheumatology. 2000;39:421-426. Available at http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/39/4/421 . Accessed May 28, 2007.