IgG immunotherapy
Octapharma’s involvement in patients in need of IgG immunotherapy is evident through our unique portfolio of immunoglobulin products, where we offer various product forms, concentrations and methods of administration for liquid solutions ready for use by healthcare professionals and patients worldwide.
When IgG immunotherapy may be prescribed
IgG immunotherapy is commonly used for two types of patients: people who have an immune deficiency due to a genetic defect, an underlying disease, or a medical induced condition that suppresses the immune system and people with an autoimmune disease that involves a defect in the immune system that causes the body to attack itself.
Different types of immune deficiency
Doctors divide immune deficiency into primary immunodeficiency (PID) and secondary immunodeficiency (SID). Primary immune deficiency includes over 350 different diseases where genetic defects lead to failure of the immune system’s cells and proteins. This makes the person more susceptible to infections than others. The most common sign of primary immunodeficiency is an increased susceptibility to common infections such as ear and sinusitis, colds, sore throats, fever and pneumonia. Without treatment, such infections can become chronic and cause organ damage. In the worst case, people can die. Secondary immune deficiency can occur due to underlying disease such as cancer, or due to treatment with medicines that suppress the immune system, which increases the risk of infections.
Autoimmune diseases
- Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease that causes bruising and an increased incidence of internal bleeding, which in the worst case can be life-threatening. The bleeding occurs because the immune system attacks a certain type of cells, platelets, which are needed to control bleeding.
- Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a rare, neurologically immune-mediated disease that attacks the peripheral nervous system. If left untreated, the disease can lead to progressive motor and sensory dysfunction and permanent loss of function.
There are also other autoimmune diseases such as Guillain-Barrès syndrome (GBS), in which the immune system attacks the nerves, and Kawasaki’s disease, in which an overactive immune system causes inflammation in blood vessels.
