Efficacy and safety of subcutaneous vivaglobin® replacement therapy in previously untreated patients with primary immunodeficiency: a prospective, multicenter study

J Clin Immunol. 2011 Dec;31(6):952-61. doi: 10.1007/s10875-011-9588-5. Epub 2011 Sep 20.

Abstract

Treatment of primary immunodeficiency (PI) is typically initiated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) loading and then continued with IVIG or subcutaneous IgG (SCIG). This prospective, open-label, multicenter, 6-month study evaluated a new regimen of initiating IgG therapy with SCIG in 18 previously untreated patients. In the loading phase, SCIG 100 mg/kg was administered for five consecutive days (total loading dose 500 mg/kg). During the maintenance phase, patients self-infused SCIG 100 mg/kg/week at home. The primary efficacy endpoint of IgG levels ≥5 g/L on day 12 was achieved in 17 patients (94.4%; 95% CI 0.727, 0.999). The rate of infections was 3.95 episodes/patient/year. Improvement was found in many subscales of the health-related quality of life questionnaires. SCIG treatment was well tolerated, with no related serious adverse events (AEs). Nine (50%) patients experienced related AEs, including local reactions (rate 0.105 events/infusion). The results suggest that therapy of newly diagnosed patients with PI can be initiated directly with SCIG.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Infective Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Anti-Infective Agents / adverse effects
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulins / administration & dosage*
  • Immunoglobulins / adverse effects
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / administration & dosage
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / adverse effects
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / blood
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / drug therapy*
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / immunology
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / physiopathology
  • Infant
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
  • Vivaglobin