Intravenous Immunoglobulin
| Clinical data | |
|---|---|
| Trade names | Flebogamma, Gammagard, others |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
| Routes of administration |
IV, IM, subQ |
| ATC code | |
| Identifiers | |
| Synonyms | normal human immunoglobulin (HNIG), human normal immunoglobulin (HNIG) |
| CAS Number | |
Immunoglobulin therapy, also known as normal human immunoglobulin (NHIG), is the use of a mixture of antibodies (immunoglobulins) to treat a number of health conditions. These conditions include primary immunodeficiency, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, Kawasaki disease, certain cases of HIV/AIDS and measles, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and in certain other infections when a more specific immunoglobulin is not avaliable. Depending on the formulation it can be given by injection into muscle, a vein, or under the skin. The effects last a few weeks.
Common side effects include pain at the site of injection, muscle pain, and allergic reactions. Other severe side effects include kidney problems, anaphylaxis, blood clots, and red blood cell breakdown. Use is not recommended in people with some types of IgA deficiency. Use appears to be relatively safe during pregnancy. Human immunoglobulin is made from human blood plasma. It contains antibodies against a large number of viruses.
Human immunoglobulin therapy first occurred in the 1930s and a formulation for injection into a vein was approved for medical use in the United States in 1981. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. Each formulation of product is somewhat different. In the United Kingdom a dose cost the NHS between 11.20 and 1,200.00 pounds depending on the type and amount. A number of specific immunoglobulin formulations are also avaliable including for hepatitis B, rabies, tetanus, varicella infection, and Rh positive blood exposure.
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