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Safety of intravenous immune globulin in an outpatient setting for patients with neuromuscular disease
Author(s) -
Waheed Waqar,
Ayer Gretchen A.,
Jadoo Cindy L.,
Badger Gary J.,
Aboukhatwa Marwa,
Brannagan Thomas H.,
Tandan Rup
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.26678
Subject(s) - medicine , myasthenia gravis , neuromuscular disease , adverse effect , aseptic meningitis , outpatient clinic , retrospective cohort study , multivariate analysis , pediatrics , disease , meningitis
Although intravenous immune globulin (IVIg) is used to treat patients in the outpatient setting, there is limited documentation addressing the safety of this practice. Methods Retrospective analysis of 438 patients with neuromuscular diseases receiving IVIg in an outpatient setting. Results Adverse events (AE) overall occurred in 16.9% of patients. Headache was the most common AE, noted in 11.6% of patients. Serious AEs occurred in 0.91% of patients; aseptic meningitis was the only one noted. Multivariate analyses identified the following risk factors for AEs: first‐lifetime course of IVIg, higher dose per course of IVIg, diagnosis of myasthenia gravis, women, and younger age. Discussion Intravenous immune globulin is generally safe to administer in an outpatient setting. Women, myasthenia gravis patients, and those receiving their first course or a higher total dose of IVIg are at an increased risk of experiencing an AE.