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Management of patients with malignancies and secondary immunodeficiencies treated with immunoglobulins in clinical practice: Long‐term data of the SIGNS study
Author(s) -
Reiser Marcel,
Borte Michael,
Huscher Dörte,
Baumann Ulrich,
Pittrow David,
Sommer Claudia,
Stangel Martin,
Fasshauer Maria,
Gold Ralf,
Hensel Manfred
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/ejh.12900
Subject(s) - medicine , tolerability , dosing , antibody , prospective cohort study , clinical practice , gastroenterology , pediatrics , adverse effect , immunology , family medicine
Abstract Objective We aimed to describe the current management and outcomes of patients with secondary immunodeficiencies (SID) on intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) immunoglobulins (IG) as maintenance therapy to prevent infections. Methods Non‐interventional, prospective study (average follow‐up 20.5 months). Results Of the 307 SID patients (mean age 63.7±14.4 years, 52% males, in 31% IG newly initiated), 95.4% received IV IG (mean dosing interval 4.6 weeks, average dose 199 mg/kg per 4 weeks) and 4.6% were treated with SC IG (2.6 weeks, 343 mg/kg per 4 weeks). Median IG through level at first documentation was 5.8 g/L and did not differ between IV and SC treatment or between underlying malignancies. In 24.1% of patients, treatment was interrupted temporarily, over a mean of 11.6±6.3 months. In patients with newly initiated IG treatment the 82% overall infection rate prior to treatment dropped to 21% at 1 year. Conclusions Under clinical practice conditions, IG replacement therapy in SID patients was feasible, diminished infection rates and improved quality of life. Average IG doses were relatively low. Tolerability of IV IG treatment was excellent.