About human immunoglobulin proteins
Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG)
Used for
- Primary immunodeficiency
- Chronic immune thrombocytopenia
- Multifocal motor neuropathy
- Guillain–Barré syndrome, where approved
Usual adult dose
Dose depends on the condition; commonly 1–2 g/kg per treatment course, divided over one or more days.
Usual dose in children
Primary immunodeficiency: usually 0.2–0.8 g/kg every 3–4 weeks; other uses have condition-specific dosing.
Common side effects
- Headache
- Nausea
- Fever or chills
- Infusion reactions
Important warnings
- Can cause blood clots, kidney injury, or destruction of red blood cells.
- Rarely causes severe allergic reactions, especially with IgA deficiency and anti-IgA antibodies.
- Infusions require monitoring; risk may rise with dehydration or rapid infusion.
- Contains maltose, which can interfere with some blood-glucose testing devices.
Pregnancy
Use when clinically needed; pregnancy safety data are limited. Assess benefits and risks with a healthcare professional.
Breastfeeding
Human immunoglobulin is expected to be compatible with breastfeeding; clinical data are limited.
Interactions
- Live vaccines, including measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella, may work less well after treatment.
- Some glucose-monitoring systems may give falsely high results because of maltose.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.