Immunoglobulin replacement therapy

Immunodeficiency disorders weaken your immune system and allow infections and other health complications to occur more easily.   One type of immunodeficiency disorder involves antibodies called immunoglobulin G (IgG). If you have low levels or poorly functioning IgG antibodies, you can have a lot of infections that are difficult to treat.

Symptoms of IgG Deficiency:

• Infections that keep coming back or won’t go away
• Unusual or difficult to treat infections
• Delayed growth and development in children
• Pneumonia or bronchitis
• Ear infections
• Sinusitis
• Infections that cause a sore throat
• Yeast infections
• Digestive tract infections

Causes of IgG Deficiency:

IgG deficiency can be present at birth and genetics probably play a role. A deficiency that develops later in life is much more common and may be caused by several factors. Some of these factors include aging, malnutrition, HIV, chemotherapy medicines or long-term corticosteroids (like prednisone). When the symptoms come up later in life, the health problems from your IgG deficiency are usually harder to manage.

How does Immunoglobulin Replacement Therapy Work?

IgG replacement therapy can be given through your vein (intravenously or IVIg) each month, or under your skin (subcutaneously or SCIg) about once a week to every two weeks. Both methods increase IgG to levels high enough to help fight your infections.

Your blood IgG levels will rise more quickly with the IV administration route, but the SCIg also works very well in our experience. Drinking plenty of fluids before treatments can help you avoid side effects like headaches.

If you would like to learn more about how Relief Allergy & Sinus Institute can help you get your IgG and immune deficiency under control with immunoglobulin replacement therapy, request an appointment today online or call (630) 513-1691.