What is intravenous immune globulin?
Intravenous immune globulin, or IVIG, is a medical treatment used to treat certain diseases rich in antibody. The solution contains a mixture of immunoglobulins or antibodies taken from plasma by more than 1,000 blood donors. This treatment is in some autoimmune diseases and immune disorders and involves infusions of immunoglobulin solution at repeated intervals until the disease is under control. Some patients require lifelong treatment to maintain the remission of the disease. This process repeats daily for up to five or alternative days. Initially, patients receive infusions every three to four weeks. Since the condition responds to treatment, there may be time between infusions for up to several months. Patients receive infusions under the supervision of medical staff at home or to Outpatient settings.
Ivig is an effective treatment of several diseases. Immune disorders include conditions where patients have low levels of antibodies or antibodies that do not work administrationNo. Patients with these disorders are susceptible to the disease because their bodies do not have the necessary antibodies to combat pathogens. Intravenous immune globulin therapy increases antibodies in these patients and helps them resist infections.
Autoimmune diseases are conditions where the patient's own antibodies attack healthy cells. Antibodies in immunoglobulin solution bind with specific blood products and help alleviate the autoimmune reaction. IVIG is also effective in patients with acute infections, where harmful pathogens impress the normal immune system of the patient. Immunoglobulin solution antibodies work with the patient's own antibodies to combat infection. In some cases, IVIG therapy is a preventive measure for patients facing dangerous viruses or bacteria.
Most patients tolerate well intravenous immune globulin therapy and experienceThe minimum side effects. The most common side effects include headaches, vomiting and fatigue. Sometimes the transition to another brand eliminates these side effects. IVIG can cause serious side effects such as anaphylactic shock, pulmonary edema and acute kidney failure.
intravenous immune globulin therapy is very expensive due to partially extraction of antibodies from such a large number of blood gifts and careful processing and testing of the solution. Doctors can use other treatment before reverse to IVIG therapy. However, some conditions respond only to IVIG therapy, which makes it the first line treatment in some cases.