Retrospective Evaluation of Intravenous Immunoglobulin Use in Adult Hematology Practice

Istemi SERIN^1, , Feyza YAYLACI MERT², Hasan GOZE¹ and Osman YOKUS¹

¹University of Health Sciences, Istanbul Training and Research Hospital, Department of Hematology, Istanbul, Turkey

²University of Health Sciences, Istanbul Training and Research Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey

Cite this paper:
Istemi SERIN, Feyza YAYLACI MERT, Hasan GOZE and Osman YOKUS. Retrospective Evaluation of Intravenous Immunoglobulin Use in Adult Hematology Practice. American Journal of Pharmacological Sciences. 2020; 8(1):14-20. doi: 10.12691/ajps-8-1-4

Abstract

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIGs) preparations, which are used in the treatment of many immune-based diseases, also have an important place in hematology practice. It is an important treatment option with many different immunoregulatory roles. There is a limitation of its use on adult patients due to the lack of retrospective data. In our study, the retrospective usage indications, responses and rates of IVIG preparations evaluated in our Hematology Clinic and used in various indications between January 2010 and January 2020 were attempted to be put forth. Our targets for treatment responses were as follows: For immune thrombocytopenia, the platelet count target was 30000 x 10³/µL and above; no hospitalization need for secondary hypogammaglobulinemia; no replacement need for hemolytic anemia after IVIG and a hemoglobin level above 8 g/dl. When 166 patients were examined in total, 66 were diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) (39.8%) and 19 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (11.4%). There were emergency indications for all patients with thrombocytopenia before getting a primary diagnosis. The number of patients who used IVIG before getting a primary diagnosis was 79 (47.6%), 41 of whom (51.9%) were diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenic purpura in follow up. The expected response was 36.1% with 60 patients within the entire patient group. With further examination performed after emergency usage, the diagnoses received by the patients were revealed. The response was 58.5% with 24 patients in whom IVIG was used under emergency conditions and deep thrombocytopenia before getting a primary diagnosis and were diagnosed with ITP after further examinations.

Keywords:
IVIG Immunoregulatory Immunocomplexes Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura Malignancies Alloimmunisation Off-Label Usage

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