When to initiate immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IGRT) in antibody deficiency: a practical approach

Jolles, Stephen, Chapel, H. and Litzman, J. 2017. When to initiate immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IGRT) in antibody deficiency: a practical approach. Clinical and Experimental Immunology 188 (3) , pp. 333-341. 10.1111/cei.12915

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Abstract

Primary antibody deficiencies (PAD) constitute the majority of all primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID) and immunoglobulin replacement forms the mainstay of therapy for many patients in this category. Secondary antibody deficiencies (SAD) represent a larger and expanding number of patients resulting from the use of a wide range of immunosuppressive therapies, in particular those targeting B cells, and may also result from renal or gastrointestinal immunoglobulin losses. While there are clear similarities between primary and secondary antibody deficiencies, there are also significant differences. This review describes a practical approach to the clinical, laboratory and radiological assessment of patients with antibody deficiency, focusing on the factors that determine whether or not immunoglobulin replacement should be used. The decision to treat is more straightforward when defined diagnostic criteria for some of the major PADs, such as common variable immunodeficiency disorders (CVID) or X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA), are fulfilled or, indeed, when there is a very low level of immunoglobulin production in association with an increased frequency of severe or recurrent infections in SAD. However, the presentation of many patients is less clear-cut and represents a considerable challenge in terms of the decision whether or not to treat and the best way in which to assess the outcome of therapy. This decision is important, not least to improve individual quality of life and reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with recurrent infections but also to avoid inappropriate exposure to blood products and to ensure that immunoglobulin, a costly and limited resource, is used to maximal benefit.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell
ISSN:	0009-9104
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	6 November 2017
Date of Acceptance:	3 December 2016
Last Modified:	08 Nov 2017 11:49
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/106266

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