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Frequently Asked Questions 

Question:

My doctor has prescribed IVIG.  What can you tell me about it?

 

Answer:

 

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). IVIg is a blood product prepared from the serum of more than 1,000 donors that contains a broad range of antibodies.  Some of these antibodies target a patient’s autoantibodies and neutralize them, along with other pro-inflammatory aspects of the immune system.   It contains the antibody IgG.  What is known about IgG is that it helps control the immune system.  AE is caused by overactive or rogue antibodies in your immune system. IVIg is part of the first-line of treatment options for Autoimmune Encephalitis, along with steroids and plasmapheresis that try to control these antibodies from attacking.

Once you receive an IVIG infusion treatment, most physicians believe that it sends a signal to slow down the immune system from making more antibodies.  It may also provide antibodies you are lacking.  It is also thought that it creates a decoy target for the overactive immune system to attack.  Resulting in diverting the normal immune system from the body’s normal organs.  It may also work by binding the abnormal antibody and stimulating its’ removal.  Adding healthy antibodies into your system can also boost your immune system by performing the same function as your body’s native antibodies.

 

Standard dosage

 

IVIg is generally given at a dose of 0.4 g/kg daily for 3–5 days followed by 0.4 g/kg every week for 5 weeks,

and then the patient should be re-evaluated for assessment of neurological improvement. Local availability of different IVIg products may vary.

Each dose is usually administered in an infusion center, although some insurance policies will cover home infusions, over 2–4 hours with monitoring for infusion reactions during that time. The patient should be pre-medicated with acetaminophen 650 mg and diphenhydramine 25–50 mg by mouth.

 

Contraindications

 

Hypersensitivity to IVIg, including patients with IgA deficiency with anti-IgA antibodies, and history of hypersensitivity.

 

Main drug interactions

 

IVIg may diminish the efficacy of live vaccines. Main side-effects Selective IgA deficiency is a relative contraindication to IVIg therapy. Checking total immunoglobulin (Ig) and Ig isotypes to exclude selective IgA deficiency prior to commencing IVIg therapy is generally recommended, though anaphylaxis caused by IgE antibodies to IgA is rare [23]. Patients with B cell deficiencies are most at risk for true anaphylaxis caused by IgE antibodies to IgA. A prior allergic reaction to IVIg products is an absolute contraindication to IVIg therapy. No other specific blood testing is required prior to starting IVIg. However, IVIg should be used with caution in patients with renal impairment or a history of thrombotic events.

Commonly encountered and/or serious side effects include headache, infusion reactions, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, aseptic meningitis, deep venous thromboses, pulmonary emboli, acute tubular necrosis, renal failure and pulmonary edema.

Special Points

 

After the prescribed course of IVIg has been completed, the patient should be reassessed by a neurologist within 2 weeks to re-evaluate subjective and objective parameters of neurological function, prior to the waning of the immunotherapeutic effects of IVIg (elimination half-life of IVIg is 14–24 days).

If objective evidence of clinical improvement is documented along

with improvement in symptoms, further treatments with IVIg are generally recommended. If the patient remains in remission from the neurological symptoms, the treatments are usually tapered from an infusion every other week to an infusion every third week, followed by monthly treatments, and then discontinuing therapy. This tapering is often done in conjunction with initiation of an oral immunosuppressant, such as azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil, with the goal of overlapping the IVIg and oral immunosuppressive therapy for 3–6 months, followed by discontinuation of IVIg. Longer-term immunosuppression with oral agents is only undertaken in those patients with clear objective evidence of neurological improvement after a trial of IVIg.

If no objective improvements are noted after the 12-week trial, then IVIg is discontinued at that point.

 

References

Andrew Mckeon, MD, Current Treatment Options in Neurology, Immunotherapeutics for Autoimmune Encephalopaties

Shin, Y.-W. et al. Treatment strategies for autoimmune encephalitis. Ther. Adv.
Neurol. Disord. 11, 1–19 (2018).

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Our website is not a substitute for independent professional medical advice. Nothing contained on our website is intended to be used as medical advice. No content is intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice. Although THE INTERNATIONAL AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALITIS SOCIETY  provides a great deal of information about AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALITIS, all content is provided for informational purposes only. The International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society  cannot provide medical advice.


International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society is a charitable non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2016 by Tabitha Andrews Orth, Gene Desotell and Anji Hogan-Fesler. Tax ID# 81-3752344. Donations raised directly supports research, patients, families and caregivers impacted by autoimmune encephalitis and to educating healthcare communities around the world. Financial statement will be made available upon request.

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