Download Intravenous immunoglobulin and you

Intravenous
immunoglobulin
and you
Patient information
What is intravenous
immunoglobulin?
Your doctor will have told you that you need
to be given a medicine called intravenous
immunoglobulin to help you recover from
your illness.
Intravenous immunoglobulin, or IVIG for short, may
sound daunting, but don’t worry. It’s simply a medicine
containing a mixture of antibodies purified from plasma
supplied by blood or plasma donors.
Intravenous means that it goes directly into your veins,
whilst immunoglobulin is another word for antibody.
You may already know that antibodies help your body
fight infection.
So intravenous immunoglobulin is a medicine that is
injected into your veins, either to help you fight infection
or to help your immune system work properly, depending
on your illness.
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Who needs intravenous
immunoglobulin?
Intravenous immunoglobulin has been used to treat all sorts
of illnesses for the last 20 years, and new uses are being
found all the time.
A number of conditions commonly treated with intravenous
immunoglobulin include:
• Primary antibody deficiency – PAD
An inherited condition which results in a partial or
complete lack of antibodies
• Secondary antibody deficiency
A condition caused by a previous or ongoing illness
which results in a partial or complete lack of antibodies
• Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura – ITP
A shortage of the blood platelets which help your body
heal cuts and abrasions
• Kawasaki disease
A possibly infectious inflammation of the blood
vessels in children
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome – GBS
A short-term (‘acute’) inflammation of the nerves that
control your arms and legs
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How does intravenous
immunoglobulin work?
Primary antibody deficiency
Primary antibody deficiency, or PAD for short, is a genetic
disorder which results in either a shortage, or total lack,
of antibodies. This means that your body cannot fight
infection as well as it should.
By taking intravenous immunoglobulin, you can boost
the amount of antibodies in your circulation to a level that
can fight infection successfully. This level of antibodies
needs to be topped-up every so often using intravenous
immunoglobulin to keep this protection going.
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Secondary antibody deficiency
Secondary antibody deficiency is a shortage, or total lack,
of antibodies as a result of the effects of another illness.
So this condition is not inherited but is an acquired condition.
The effects though are the same as in PAD, that is, your
body cannot fight infection as well as it should. Again,
intravenous immunoglobulin is needed to boost antibody
levels so that they can fight infection effectively. Regular
doses of intravenous immunoglobulin are needed to keep
these antibody levels high enough to fight infection.
In addition, you will need other treatments for the illness
which has led to the low levels of antibodies.
Two examples of conditions that can lead to Secondary
Antibody Deficiency are given below.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia, or CLL for short, is a
condition which causes the cells which make antibodies
(called B-cells) to not work properly. This means that the
body does not make enough antibodies to fight infection.
Multiple Myeloma
This is another condition which causes the B-cells to not
work properly. As with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia,
the body does not make enough antibodies to fight infection.
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Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura, or ITP for short,
is a condition which results in a shortage of platelets, which
help your body heal cuts and wounds.
Intravenous immunoglobulin can block the normal
breakdown of platelets in your spleen, slowing down their
destruction. So, your platelet count can rise and bleeding
is controlled.
Repeated doses of intravenous immunoglobulin are needed
to maintain this effect and to keep platelet levels up.
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Kawasaki disease
Kawasaki disease is thought to be an infectious disease
(though this is not yet proven), mainly appearing in children.
This disease results in inflammation of the blood vessels
and other tissues, such as heart muscle.
Although intravenous immunoglobulin is known to be
very effective in treating Kawasaki disease, the way that
it works is not yet known. Aspirin also needs to be given
as part of the treatment.
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Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) can affect patients of all
ages and, in the UK, about 1,500 people are diagnosed
as having the disease each year.
GBS is a short-term (‘acute’) inflammation of the nerves
that control your arms and legs.
The exact cause of GBS is not fully understood. It has been
noticed that patients have often suffered from an infection of
the throat or intestine in the weeks before being diagnosed
as having GBS. Sometimes, GBS has been known to follow
a period of great stress. For this reason, it is thought that
GBS may have its root cause in the immune system.
High doses of intravenous immunoglobulin aid clinical
improvement in many patients. The mechanism of action
in GBS is unknown.
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Intravenous immunoglobulin
preparations
There are many different preparations available for
treatment, some manufactured in the UK, others
manufactured abroad.
Whichever preparation is used, they are all essentially
the same; antibodies purified from plasma supplied by
blood or plasma donors.
The amount of intravenous immunoglobulin in each bottle is
measured in grams, and the amount needed for successful
treatment is expressed in grams/kg.
Once your doctor or nurse has worked out how much you
need, the intravenous immunoglobulin will be given to you
through a drip into your arm. This will either happen at the
hospital, or in certain circumstances, you will be shown how
to do it yourself at home.
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Don’t worry, you’re not alone!
Useful addresses:
The ITP Support Association
Synehurste, Kimbolton Road
Bolnhurst, Bedfordshire MK44 2EW
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.itpsupport.org.uk
International Patient Organisation for Primary Immunodeficiencies (IPOPI)
Firside Main Road, Downderry, Cornwall PL11 3LE
Tel: 01503 250668
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ipopi.org
Kawasaki Support Group
13 Norwood Grove, Potters Green, Coventry CV2 2FR
Helpline: 02476 612178
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.kssg.org.uk
Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research
39-40 Eagle Street, London WC1R 4TH
Tel: 0207 405 0101
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://leukaemialymphomaresearch.org.uk
Guillain-Barré Syndrome Support Group
Ground Floor, Woodholme House, Heckington Business Park
Station Road, Heckington, Sleaford NG34 9JH
Helpline: 0800 374803
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.gbs.org.uk
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If in doubt... ...ask!
Remember – if you have any questions or concerns about
IVIG therapy, always ask your GP or Consultant who will be
able to set your mind at ease.
Your consultant is:
....................................................
....................................................
Contact phone number:
....................................................
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A Patient Information Service from:
Bio Products Laboratory Ltd, Dagger Lane, Elstree,
Hertfordshire, WD6 3BX, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 8957 2342 / 2622
Fax: +44 (0)20 8957 2611
Email: [email protected]
www.bpl.co.uk
BPL is a registered trade mark of Bio Products Laboratory Ltd
®
UK/Gx/0112/0001 Date of preparation: January 2012