What is immunoglobulin therapy?: - CLL Support
What is immunoglobulin therapy?
It is a purified blood product collected from 2000 or more people that boosts immunoglobulin G an antibody. CLL can depleat these antibodies, which causes repeated bacterial infections. The interavenous IgG infusion every 3 to 4 weeks increases these antibodies in the patients blood, helping to ward off some types of infection. It does nothing to treat the actual CLL.
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Thank you. Are there any side effects. Am just wondering if it is the next treatment after all the usual treatments? I am in remission at the moment and my last treatment was FCR followed by Rituximab. Am not sure what will happen when I become I'll again.
IVIG (gamma globulin) infusions are not treatment for CLL. One would be considered for IVIG if a blood test shows your IgG level to be low and if you are having repeated infections or, usually, 2 serious infections, like pneumonia, in the dame year. I am watch and wait with good labs except that my IgG level will not stay up on it's own. I have been getting IVIG infusions since 2002. Most people do not have reactions to IVIG, but it is a possibility. It's critical that, if during an infusion, you feel even the slightest bit "off", you tell your nurse immediately (basic advice for any treatment). Sometimes changing brands will solve the problem if there is a reaction. UCLA and Ohio State, and I'm sure other infusion centers, are now using Privigen, as they are not seeing reactions with it overall.
Yes there are side effects but as mentioned some patients tolerate one brand over another.
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I started immunoglobulin treatment a few weeks ago, and have it every week, i can do it myself now, and have had no side effects at all.
I have had five transfusions of IVIG so far and we suspect that a mild hives outbreak occurring 3-4 days was caused by three of them. I'm waiting to see if it happens after my last transfusion on Wednesday. If it does we're trying another brand. Hives was most noticeably on my face - bright mildly itchy blotches in a red face that eventually peeled like sunburn, plus a mildly itchy hives rash on my torso and upper arms.
my husband has had ivig for two and a half years every 28 days. Until 3 months ago he had no side effects, but the last 3 months has felt nauseous , flue-like and generally under the weather. These symptoms lasted from 2 to 6 days. The very latest infusion however, he omitted his usual water tablet the previous day and took on board an increased liquid intake also the same during the infusion day and the day following, he felt much better, we will repeat the same actions on Feb 18th which is the next infusion.Also, if the infusion rate is increased too quickly this can add to his misery. His infusion of 3 bottles usually takes 6 - 7 hours.
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