Home therapy with subcutaneous immunoglobulin infusions in children with congenital immunodeficiencies.

OBJECTIVES

Patients with congenital, humoral immunodeficiencies are usually treated with intravenous immunoglobulin infusions. Subcutaneous infusions have emerged as an alternative treatment modality also in children. Our institution has run a subcutaneous infusion home therapy program for 6 years, and the purpose of this report is to describe our experience with this regimen.

METHODS

The subcutaneous therapy of eight patients with immunodeficiency (three with agammaglobulinemia, one with common variable immunodeficiency, one with severe combined immunodeficiency and bone marrow transplantation, and three with hyper-immunoglobulin M syndrome) was evaluated by chart review and a questionnaire answered by all the families. The infusions were given for at least 3 hours each week by a small syringe driver at home after the family had attended an intensive educational course at the hospital.

RESULTS

The children were given a total of approximately 1100 infusions. They started at the age of 2 to 8 (mean, 4.5) years and received these infusions for 1.5 to 6 (mean, 3) years. By administering immunoglobulin doses from 58 to 149 (mean, 97) mg/kg per week, trough serum immunoglobulin G values from 5.2 to 9.6 (mean, 7) g/L were obtained. No serious infections occurred. Short-lasting, local side effects such as swelling and redness were frequently reported, but pain or systemic adverse reactions during or after the infusions were never encountered.

CONCLUSIONS

Home therapy with subcutaneous immunoglobulin infusions in children with congenital immunodeficiencies is a feasible and safe treatment alternative.