Intravenous immune globulin therapy in hypogammaglobulinemia. A review.

An immune globulin preparation specifically modified for intravenous administration has been employed therapeutically in 30 patients with primary immunodeficiency disease. Our results of this long-term study are summarized within three major categories: (1) Levels of serum IgG produced and maintained after intravenously administered serum immune globulin infusions of 100 to 500 mg/kilo. The disappearance pattern of infused IgG is outlined and individual patient variations emphasized. (2) The therapeutic effects of intravenously administered serum immune globulin therapy are reported and related to dosages of intravenously administered serum immune globulin administered and serum levels of IgG maintained. (3) The incidence and nature of detrimental side effects are outlined, and methods to reduce this problem are indicated. It is recommended that patients with primary immunodeficiency be given from 150 to 200 mg/kilo intravenously administered serum immune globulin, every four weeks, as prophylactic therapy to reduce acute infectious complications. A method to establish an optimum therapy for a specific patient is presented.