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Prophylactic effect of self‐administered pump‐driven subcutaneous IgG infusion in patients with antibody deficiency: a triple‐blind cross‐over study comparing P‐IgG levels of 3 g l −1 versus 6 g l −1
Author(s) -
REMVIG L.,
ANDERSEN V.,
HANSEN N. E.,
KARLE H.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.625
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1365-2796
pISSN - 0954-6820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2796.1991.tb00309.x
Subject(s) - medicine , immunoglobulin g , regimen , infusion pump , antibody , gastroenterology , anesthesia , urology , immunology
. Eight adult patients with hypoimmunoglobulinaemia were randomly allocated to initiation of low‐ or high‐level IgG‐substitution. IgG was administered subcutaneously, at 50 or 150 mg ml −1 , 20 ml per infusion, by means of a pocket‐portable electric infusion pump. Infusions were given 2 to 4 times weekly for 24 months, with a change of dose regimen after 12 months. The desired plasma IgG levels were reached after a mean lag phase of 3 months (range 1‐5 months). The median (and ranges) of the individual mean plasma IgG levels during the ensuing 9‐month periods were as follows: high‐level period, 6.5 g l −1 (range 6.2‐7.8 g l −1 ); low‐level period, 3.2 g l −1 (range 3.0‐4.0 g l −1 ). During the high‐level period, compared to the low‐level period, there was a significant decrease in the following parameters: ‘days in bed at home', ‘days missed work’ and ‘days with fever’. No serious side‐effects were observed. It is concluded that a plasma IgG concentration of 6 g l −1 can readily be achieved by subcutaneous IgG substitution, and the prophylactic effect is superior to that obtained with a plasma IgG concentration of 3 g l −1 .